TOPEKA, Kans. and INDIANAPOLIS – Convenience stores in Kansas could start selling full-strength beer in July 2018, under a proposal that cleared the state’s legislative committee this week. The bill approved by the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee also would also allow grocery stores to sell liquor, wine and full-strength beer. The committee's 10-7 vote sends the measure to the full House for debate.

It's seen as a significant development for supporters of expanded alcohol sales in a state that enforced its own prohibition law until 1949 and didn't allow individual alcoholic beverages outside of private clubs until 1987. Currently, Kansas limits grocery and convenience stores to selling "cereal malt beverage," which is often described as weak beer. Supporters of the bill argue that wider sales of full-strength beer, wine and liquor would make the market freer and be more convenient for consumers.

At the same time, Indiana will keep the distinction of having the last statewide "blue law" banning Sunday carry-out alcohol sales after the sponsor of a bill that would have lifted the ban announced this week that the measure is dead. The bill seeking to end the state's 80-year-old ban made it to the House floor, farther than in any other past sessions.

Opponents of the bill pointed to its added regulations on where alcohol could be displayed and sold as the reason it stalled out. Under the bill, all beer and wine would have been kept in a designated area, with liquor stored behind the counter. Clerks would have had to be 21 or older and have mandated training, and consumers couldn't purchase hard liquor at a self-service checkout. Grocery, convenience and drugstore retailers have long supported allowing retail alcohol sales on Sunday, but they argued that segregating liquor would create longer checkout lines and inconvenience consumers. While the original bill, which simply lifted the Sunday ban, was fair to consumers, the added regulations turned it into "a package liquor store wish-list" that did more damage to customers than the potential gain from Sunday sales.