TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansans are closer to being allowed to be their own bartenders after the state Senate passed a bill that would legalize self-service beer taps for bars and clubs.
The vote Thursday was 37-3 and sent the bill to the House.
Kansas is among a handful of states where self-service beer taps are not legal.
Critics worry that legalizing them would make it harder to prevent underage drinking or keep customers from becoming drunk.
Most Read Nation & World Stories
Kansas Licensed Beverage Association representative Philip Bradley wasn’t opposed to the idea but said for monitoring customers, a real-life bartender is hard to beat.
Missouri bar owner Zach Campbell has such taps in his establishment and said customers must check in with a bartender periodically.
He says having self-service taps is “almost like a beer buffet.”