KHI offered neutral testimony before the House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee on HB 2556. The bill would make changes to the Kansas Liquor Control Act permitting convenience and grocery stores to sell liquor and wine. Currently, only liquor stores can sell those products for consumption off premises.
KHI is conducting a health impact assessment (HIA) on the issue. HIA is a new tool which brings health considerations into policy discussions where health is not always considered. This particular HIA focuses on potential positive and negative health impacts that may result from changes to the act. The overall goal of the HIA is to inform policymakers of these impacts and to provide recommendations that could optimize potential health benefits while minimizing potential health risks.
Two preliminary findings from the study are noted in the testimony. The final report will be released this spring and shared with policymakers and posted to the KHI website.
KHI, in partnership with the KU School of Medicine in Wichita, was awarded a grant to study this issue from the National Network of Public Health Institutes and the Health Impact Project, which is a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts.