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Committee presses ABC director on THC drinks, shipping rules and microbrewery minimums
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Summary
Committee members asked Director Debbie Beavers whether ABC will act on THC-infused beverages, whether nonalcoholic beer can be shipped to homebound residents, and about growth of common-consumption areas and unresolved microbrewery minimums.
Committee members used the question-and-answer portion of the meeting to press Director Debbie Beavers on several specific topics raised in her presentation.
Representative Smough asked whether ABC plans to take action on THC-infused beverages and what that action would look like. Beavers responded that ABC had notified licensees of guidance from the Office of the Attorney General and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation but "we are not taking any action" because convictions for selling illegal products could lead to license revocation and the matter is not within ABC's purview as she understands it.
Representative Poskins raised a constituent issue about getting nonalcoholic beer shipped to a homebound Kansan. Beavers said there had been no change to current rules and that any change to allow direct shipping for that product would require legislative action.
Representative Bergkamp asked whether common-consumption areas (shared public-event alcohol areas) have increased. Beavers said the snapshot in the report showed 55 common-consumption areas at the time the data were pulled and that she expects the number may continue to grow.
Representative Wilcock asked for an update on the 100-barrel minimum licensing question for microbreweries; Beavers said last year ABC made recommendations but "there was no action by the legislature" and the issues remain unresolved.
Representative Sanders asked whether there have been reports of problems in common-consumption areas; Beavers said she was not aware of major problems. Representative Wagner asked about the response rate to the 25% survey sample; Beavers said she did not have the response-rate figure on hand but would check and get back to the committee.
Chair also raised a question about public access to citation records that had been available previously; Beavers said the records custodian would not allow those citation lists to be published as before and that she would look into the issue.
No committee votes or formal actions resulted from the Q&A; Beavers offered to provide follow-up information on survey response rates and records access when available.
