Full-strength beer proposal reaches Legislature floor for the first time, but is voted down.
Colorado lawmakers have rejected a proposal that would have given convenience stores, gas stations and grocery chains the
right to sell full-strength beer. The decisions ended a debate that occurs just about every year at the state Capitol, Bloomberg Businessweek reported.
The proposal was voted away after more than two and a half hours of arguments, with 18 lawmakers in support of the bill insisting customers deserve to have more options for where they buy beer. Opponents argued the proposal would make alcohol more accessible to teens and hurt small liquor stores ability to compete with larger grocery stores for alcohol sales.
While such a proposal has failed frequently in the past, this week marked the first time such a bill reached the floor of the Legislature.
Colorado one of five states (including Utah, Minnesota, Kansas and Oklahoma) where gas stations, grocery stores and convenience stores are only allowed to sell beer with 3.2% alcohol. are the other states that restrict the sale of full-strength beer at places other than liquor stores.
But the fight isn’t over for good. Another proposal in the Senate would allow only convenience stores to sell full-strength beer.
