Liquor laws expand in towns across state
Mulvane, Andover vote to allow looser regulations
Cities across Kansas amended liquor laws last week. Mulvane will allow sales of liquor for the first time, while Andover will allow Sunday liquor sales.
Wednesday, April 11th, 2007
Two Kansas cities voted to expand liquor laws last week and one chose not to.
Mulvane will allow liquor sales for the first time, Andover will allow liquor sales on Sundays pending city council approval and Sedgwick will continue to prohibit Sunday liquor sales.
Laws restricting alcohol sales across Kansas were overruled in 2005 with Senate Bill 298, which called for uniform liquor control laws. Cities would have to pass new laws to further limit the sale of liquor.
Mulvane had never had a liquor store, yet had no laws against selling liquor until someone tried to open a store in 1981. Kent Hixson, city administrator, said that the attempt spurred the citizens to vote against the sale of all but 3.2 percent beer and wine.
Last Tuesday two-thirds of Mulvane voted in favor of selling liquor, although Sunday sales will still be prohibited.
Andover city administrator Jeff Bridges expects the council to approve Sunday sales by the first week in May. Andover will join 59 other cities that allow the sale of liquor on Sunday.
In Sedgwick there has been controversy about Sunday liquor sales. Jaci Reimer, city administrator, said a local store owner felt she was losing money by not operating on Sundays. She petitioned to the city council, which passed an ordinance allowing Sunday sales, despite disagreement from the mayor. Local citizens were so upset they petitioned to vote on the ordinance, and the ordinance was voted down.
Kansan staff writer Joe Hunt can be contacted at jhunt@kansan.com.
— Edited by Stacey Couch
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