A drink with dinner?
Voters will decide liquor-by-the-drink issue in Nov. 2 election
"There is a five-day waiting period for a person wanting to purchase a gun but a 10-day waiting period for a person wanting to purchase a drink."
This is what Bill Mann, co-owner of Buffalo Gulch Ranchhouse in Burns said to Marion County Commission in February regarding liquor by-the-drink.
Mann requested the commission adopt a resolution to allow liquor by-the-drink in eating establishments.
The commission did adopt a resolution, placing the issue on the general election ballot.
Voters will get to make a decision Nov. 2 whether club memberships will continue to be required in eating establishments that serve alcoholic drinks.
The question on the ballot will read: "Shall the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink in Marion County be allowed in public places where at least 30 percent of the gross receipts are from sales of food for consumption on the premises and prohibited in all other public places?"
A "yes" vote is in favor of being able to purchase a drink with a meal in Marion County without buying a membership. A "no" vote will require customers to continue to purchase club memberships for a drink with a meal.
Currently in Marion County there are two private club/restaurants that serve food and require a membership to consume alcoholic beverages — Buffalo Gulch Ranchhouse and Coneburg Inn in Peabody.
If the resolution is approved by voters, individual cities within Marion County would have the option to adopt a similar ordinance.
Marion County is one of 39 counties that do not have liquor by the drink. Marion County is surrounded by counties that do allow it — Chase, Dickinson, Morris, Butler, McPherson, and Harvey.
Of the 105 Kansas counties, more than half (53) have adopted the liquor by the drink law that requires 30 percent food sales.
Another 13 counties allow liquor by the drink without any food sale requirement.
