OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A big change is coming on the Kansas side of the border that's been fought about for years. Higher alcohol content in beer will be sold at grocery and convenience stores starting on April 1.
Currently, beer with a 3.2 percent alcohol content are allowed to be sold in the convenience and grocery stores but with this new law, up to six percent is allowed.
It's something companies like QuikTrip said is long overdue.
"The very second that the clock hits the appropriate hour in which we can legally sell it, we're going to be ready," said Mike Thornbrugh, spokesperson for the QuikTrip organization.
Thornbrugh said beer sales account for 10-12 percent of convenience stores' bottom lines nationally, but in Kansas it's just 1 percent and he believes this will have a significant impact on revenue.
"They're already coming to our stores fortunately to buy gasoline and convenient store items now there's no reason for them to go to the liquor store, they can make their purchase right at QuikTrip," said Thornbrugh.
Right now, in the stores, they dedicate only a couple freezers for alcohol but now that number will expand.
"We only had maybe two cooler doors that were dedicated for beer and we'll be able to add at least another three, four, and maybe five. More cooler doors for the consumer who likes to purchase beer," said Thornbrugh.
While it's good news for QuikTrip, some liquor stores are seeing the change in a different way.
"We may lose on the high side I would probably guess 30-percent of our standard beer sales," said Brandon Prestia, owner of Prestia's Parkway Liquor along Shawnee Mission Parkway.
But Prestia is optimistic, because only liquor stores will still be able to sell wine and liquor, plus they have other beer options not available in grocery stores.
"A lot of craft beers are over six-percent and the grocery stores and the convenience stores can't sell those things," said Prestia.
While grabbing your alcohol at a grocery or convenience store may be convenient, Prestia believes he'll keep his customer base.
"People who have gone to QuikTrip to buy their beer are going to continue to go there, I don't know if my customers are going to say, well I'm not going to go there anymore because I can get it at QuikTrip."
Also in the law is something many of the liquor stores wanted. They'll be able to sell cigarettes and soda inside of their stores instead of having it in completely separate buildings.
