Full strength beer now sold in grocery stores across Colorado

Starting Tuesday, January 1st, Coloradans are able to buy full-strength beer in grocery and convenience stores.

For years supermarkets and convenience stores have been limited to selling beer with an alcohol content of 3.2%. That's half of what you would find in a liquor store.

At midnight, store employees started stocking empty shelves with full strength beer. It's one of the biggest changes to Colorado liquor laws in decades.

Adam Williamson with King Soopers told KCNC reporter Karen Morfitt while the rules are somewhat complicated, the law mostly impacts beer sales. What you wont see unless a store has a particular type of license, is wine and malt liquor filling the shelves... for now.

"The laws have it one a year and they shift and change as years progress. I think the thing to think about is, we are paid to do what our customers want from us. As they ask those things and want those things in our stores we will work hard to get that for them," Williamson said.

Despite concerns from small business owners across Colorado, state lawmakers approved the changes in 2016 ..Taking full effect in 2019.

While shelves could be stocked at midnight, sales were not allowed until 8 a.m. New Year's Day.