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Uncork Kansas pushing for new liquor laws

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By Sia Nyorkor

KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

2:23 AM CST, January 6, 2013

(NEWTON, Kan.)

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Uncork Kansas wants liquor and full strength beer to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.

But there are some who want the laws to stay the same.

Murray Anderson has been in business for more than 31 years. He says that every few years,  someone tries to pass legislation to change Kansas' liquor laws --much to his dismay.

"This year has a little bit of a twist, it's kind of interesting that that the Kansas Chamber is pushing for this issue," says Anderson.

Uncork Kansas is a coalition of grocery stores, convenience stores and chambers of commerce that is pushing to allow other stores to sell wine, liquor and full-strength beer. Those stores are only allowed to sell 3.2 beer and wine coolers. The law has been in effect since the 1940s.

The coalition is hoping to create competition. But Anderson says the idea of a discount is far-fetched.

"I used to work for Dillions. The corporations are pretty good at doing a loss leader. They may put one 30-pack on sale but most of the other items are full-price. They have to make a profit to make it work," says Anderson.

There are concerns that the bigger corporations will put the Mom-and-Pop stores out of business.

"Small businesses are the backbone of Kansas. When you start losing, an estimated 341 liquor stores across the state, those are jobs. You have to keep in mind, these small businesses have put millions of dollars into their businesses," says Congresswoman Gail Finney, Representative for Wichita's 84th district.

Loyal customers say, they'll stick around.

"I like the hometown feel and I like to go where I'm comfortable and I like the people here so even if the prices change on certain things, I'll still come where I like to go," says Rachel Buzzell, longtime Anderson Liquor customer.

Uncork Kansas has more than 27,000 signatures for a petition to change state liquor laws.

The group has attempted to change Kansas liquor laws before with a similar bill but failed.

Uncork Kansas pushing for new liquor laws