§ 41-701 — Certain sales by distributors, microbreweries and manufacturers prohibited; criminal penalties

(a) Except as provided in subsection (e), no spirits distributor shall sell or attempt to sell any spirits within this state except to:
(1) A licensed manufacturer, licensed nonbeverage user or licensed spirits distributor; or
(2) a licensed retailer, as authorized by K.S.A. 41-306, and amendments thereto.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (e), no wine distributor shall sell or attempt to sell any wine within this state except to:
(1) A licensed manufacturer, licensed nonbeverage user or licensed wine distributor;
(2) a licensed caterer; or
(3) a retailer, public venue, club or drinking establishment, licensed in this state, as authorized by K.S.A. 41-306a, and amendments thereto.
(c) Except as provided by subsection (e), no beer distributor shall sell or attempt to sell any beer or cereal malt beverage within this state except to:
(1) A licensed manufacturer, licensed nonbeverage user or licensed beer distributor;
(2) a licensed caterer; or
(3) a retailer licensed under the Kansas liquor control act or under K.S.A. 41-2702, and amendments thereto, or a club or drinking establishment, licensed in this state, as authorized by K.S.A. 41-307, and amendments thereto.
(d) Except as provided in K.S.A. 41-308b, and amendments thereto, and subsection (e), no microbrewery shall sell or attempt to sell any beer or hard cider within this state except to:
(1) A retailer licensed under the Kansas liquor control act or the Kansas cereal malt beverage act; or
(2) a licensee under the club and drinking establishment act.
(e) (1) If any spirits distributor refuses to sell spirits that such distributor is authorized to sell or refuses to provide any service in connection therewith to any licensed retailer as authorized by K.S.A. 41-306, and amendments thereto, it shall be lawful for any other licensed spirits distributor to sell such spirits to such retailer.
(2) If any wine distributor refuses to sell wine that such distributor is authorized to sell or refuses to furnish service in connection therewith to any licensed retailer, as authorized by K.S.A. 41-306a, and amendments thereto, it shall be lawful for any other licensed wine distributor to sell such wine to such retailer.
(3) If any beer distributor refuses to sell beer or cereal malt beverage that such distributor is authorized to sell or provide service in connection therewith to any retailer licensed under this act or under K.S.A. 41-2702, and amendments thereto, as authorized by K.S.A. 41-307, and amendments thereto, it shall be lawful for any other licensed beer distributor or microbrewery to sell such beer or cereal malt beverage to such retailer.
(e) No manufacturer of alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage shall sell or attempt to sell any alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage within this state except to a licensed manufacturer, licensed distributor or licensed nonbeverage user.
(f) No supplier, wholesaler, distributor, microbrewery, manufacturer or importer shall by oral or written contract or agreement, expressly or impliedly fix, maintain, coerce or control the resale price of alcoholic liquor, beer or cereal malt beverage to be resold by such wholesaler, distributor, microbrewery, manufacturer or importer.
(g) Any supplier, wholesaler, distributor, microbrewery or manufacturer violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000, to which may be added not to exceed six months' imprisonment. In addition, any supplier, wholesaler, distributor, microbrewery, manufacturer or importer violating the provisions of this section relating to fixing, maintaining or controlling the resale price of alcoholic liquor, beer or cereal malt beverage shall be liable in a civil action to treble the amount of any damages awarded plus reasonable attorney fees for the damaged party.

Legislative History

L. 1949, ch. 242, § 64; L. 1974, ch. 195, § 3; L. 1979, ch. 153, § 4; L. 1987, ch. 182, § 45; L. 1987, ch. 182, § 46; L. 2012, ch. 144, § 23; L. 2024, ch. 59, § 5; July 1.