Johnson County breweries push to change 1987 food, beverage law

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Johnson County breweries push to change 1987 food, beverage law

#1 Post by ryanmetcalf » Wed Apr 10, 2019 9:19 am

https://www.kctv5.com/news/johnson-coun ... 42dfc.html

Johnson County breweries push to change 1987 food, beverage law
JOHNSON COUNTY, KS (KCTV) -- Several breweries are pushing for a change that would get rid of a law that has been around since 1987.

In Kansas, every county can vote to be dry or wet county and liquor can be sold either with or without a 30% food requirement.

Places that sell alcohol like Limitless Brewery in Lenexa are required to have 30% of their revenue to come from food sales.

Though now, smaller breweries are speaking up to try to change this requirement because they say meeting that requirement is difficult.

Limitless Brewery in Lenexa sells snacks like pretzels, though they must rely on food trucks to work towards meeting that 30% for the year. They also pay the taxes for the food truck.

“So, if you think about it, a beer is $6. So, if you think about total revenue, I have to be selling at least 233 of that beer and food in addition,” said Emily Mobley with Limitless Brewery. “Which is very difficult for a small business like us,” said Emily Mobley of Limitless Brewery. “We don’t have a kitchen, so we’re relying on food trucks, we’re relying on snacks. We’re relying on many different avenues to get those food revenues in.”

In order for this law to be changed it’d need to go to the voters in the county.

Right now, places like Limitless Brewery is working to get it on the November 2019 ballot.
Limitless has a Facebook event for Q&A on the Law Change this Friday
https://www.facebook.com/events/968333726889453/

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Re: Johnson County breweries push to change 1987 food, beverage law

#2 Post by ryanmetcalf » Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:53 pm

More coverage
https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/jo ... food-sales
SHAWNEE, Kan. — A law that has been on the books in Johnson County since the 1980s requires businesses that want to sell alcohol to make a minimum of 30 percent of their revenue from food sales.

Now, local breweries are banding together to get the rule changed.

"There's two ways to put it on the ballot. One is by a petition, or a majority of the county commission can authorize putting it on the ballot," said Ed Eilert, chairman of the Johnson County Commission.

Transport Brewery opened in Shawnee in February. Co-owner Jason Leib said he knew about the 30 percent rule but didn't realize how difficult it would be until the business opened.

"People don't go to microbrewery taprooms for the food," Leib said.

The Johnson County Commission has contacted the Kansas secretary of state to determine when the issue could be placed on a ballot.

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Re: Johnson County breweries push to change 1987 food, beverage law

#3 Post by ryanmetcalf » Fri Apr 26, 2019 9:41 am

Update: Regarding 30% food requirement at drinking establishments. The Commission is willing to consider proposing a ballot question for eliminating the requirement that at least 30% of the revenue at drinking establishments must come from the sale of food in order to sell liquor by the drink. Currently - eliminating the food sale requirement can only be accomplished through a county-wide election.

The Board did research options and if an election could be held this fall when city and school board elections occur. The County has been advised that state statute requires the ballot question to occur during a general election cycle along with state elections. The County will deliberate on the issue in early 2020 so there is plenty of time to place it on the fall 2020 ballot.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 7114750745

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Re: Johnson County breweries push to change 1987 food, beverage law

#4 Post by ryanmetcalf » Thu Sep 24, 2020 2:15 pm

Limitless posted a Facebook update on this in August, they have been spearheading this ballot effort
You have all helped us get it on the ballot, now let’s get it passed! On your November ballot there will be a “Johnson County Question”. The answer is yes! The question is should Johnson County allow liquor by the drink with no food sales requirements. It’s not just breweries, there are many small businesses that are affected by this law. We are all asking for your help in spreading the word! If you would like more information, please let us know! Now let’s get this #losethe30 hashtag circulating and thanks in advance for your help! #losethe30
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Re: Johnson County breweries push to change 1987 food, beverage law

#5 Post by ryanmetcalf » Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:41 pm

Johnson County bars struggle to survive with antiquated law. Voters can change that
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/a ... 64425.html
When looking for the right location to open her brewery, Courtney Servaes said Johnson County was almost out of the question. She did not want to hassle with a lingering liquor law rooted in Kansas’ long, and often strange, history of prohibition.

Despite her concerns, she chose to open Servaes Brewing Co. in downtown Shawnee last year. But she says she’s been losing money trying to comply with the law ever since.

Owners of small bars across Johnson County are hoping voters will repeal the liquor-by-the-drink law, which requires businesses that serve alcohol to generate 30% of their sales from food. The question will be on the ballot on Nov. 3.

Johnson County breweries hopeful voters will get rid of law requiring food sales
https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/jo ... food-sales
Breweries in Johnson County are hoping voters will get rid of a law from the 1980s requiring 30 percent of their sales to be from food.

A measure to remove the law is on the November ballot. Currently, Johnson County is the only one in Kansas that still has the law on the books.
Voters can find the measure at the very bottom of their ballot. Voting 'yes' means you want to remove the law.

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Re: Johnson County breweries push to change 1987 food, beverage law

#6 Post by ryanmetcalf » Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:28 am

The law change was overwhelmingly approved!

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/jo ... -sell-food
Johnson County breweries are celebrating a big win after voters approved a measure to throw out a law that's been around since the 1980s.

The law required that 30% of brewery sales come from food.

Red Crow Brewing owner Chris Roberts said the law being changed will benefit all local breweries.

"It's more of a rising tide lifts all ships," Roberts said.

Between keeping up with federal and state licenses, Roberts said breweries had a lot to account for on a daily basis. Now, they will have one less regulation to worry about.

"By taking that burden off those business owners it allows them to focus best on what we're good at," he said, "and in the end that's making beer."

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