A Kansas Senate committee has endorsed a bill phasing in sales of full-strength beer, wine and liquor in grocery and convenience stores by 2017.

The Federal and State Affairs Committee’s approval Tuesday sent
the measure to the full Senate for debate, possibly as early as
Friday.

State law now allows grocery and convenience stores to sell only
"cereal malt beverage," also known as "weak" or "low-point"
beer.

Under the bill, the state would freeze the number of licenses
allowing a store to sell full-strength beer, wine and liquor at the
present number of about 760 until 2017. A grocery or convenience
store could obtain a license if a liquor store closed or sold its
license.

Starting in 2017, grocery and convenience stores could compete
with liquor stores.