Category Archives: Legislative Events

Legislative events and news relevant to Minnesota liquor, wine, and beer consumers

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Liquor Omnibus to finally be heard in Senate Tax Committee

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Last we heard the Omnibus Liquor Bill might not get heard this session. But sometime over the weekend a Senate Tax Committee hearing was scheduled for 10am Monday, in Room 112 at the Capitol.

The Senate Liquor Omnibus hearing being scheduled could mean a number of things for Minnesotans. It might mean the pressure to pass liquor provisions for the Vikings and TCF stadium is too great to ignore. More than likely it means that Sunday liquor sales opposition thinks they have the votes to get growler provisions for brewers removed from the bill.

Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, said he opposes any form of alcohol sales on Sundays, and he’s not sure if he’ll hold a hearing on the bill this session.
MPR – April 11, 2014

Senate Tax Committee Chairman Skoe has said he opposes any form of alcohol sales on Sundays. It will be interesting to see if Chairman Skoe raises objections to the repealer that would  allow liquor and beer sales on Sundays at TCF stadium. Surely he knows the Minnesota Vikings play on Sundays…

It doesn’t look like the Teamsters are going to stop fighting Sunday liquor sales anytime soon. They have cranked up their political spin machine on twitter. They have heaped praises upon Miller Lite, bashed MN Craft Brewers Guild, and tried to take full credit for a cooperative effort to fight a proposed increase in liquor taxes last session.

The spin hasn’t helped much in the court of public opinion. Teamsters have been subject to questions about vagueness and unwillingness to compromise on Sunday sales. They have even been called out by their own members and supporters. 

Teamsters Joint Council 32 doesn’t have much to worry about when it comes to public perception, they can’t be voted out of office. However, lawmakers might want to distance themselves from an entity that bashes small Minnesota owned businesses only to sing the praises of South African owned Miller Lite. Who will they throw under the bus next?

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Sunday sales hearings for brewers only

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Senate Commerce and House Commerce Committees heard several bills related to liquor, wine, and beer in Minnesota. Chairs of the commerce committees tend to only want to hear bills that are mostly free of controversy and contention, so it is no surprise that a full repeal on Sunday liquor sales ban wasn’t heard. Understandably, it can be hard to find support for a bill when committee members and legislators are consistently lobbied to keep pre-prohibition era laws in place by special interest groups and municipal liquor stores.

Controversy, special interests, and paid lobbying aside, it is disappointing that neither the House Commerce Committee or Senate Commerce Committee opted to hear one of the less controversial versions of the various Sunday Sales bills that would have given local jurisdictions a “local option” or a choice to opt-in / opt-out of Sunday liquor off-sale commerce. It is important to remember that under these bipartisan authored bills, the possible legalization of Sunday liquor sales would never force a store to be open whether it is a corporate giant, Mom & Pop (anyone sick of that term yet?), or municipal store. While not an ideal situation, a local option would allow Sunday sales regulations to be tailored to fit the specifics needs and wants of local jurisdictions.

We can speculate on the reasons why a bill to repeal Sunday liquor sales didn’t get heard. Maybe the paid professional lobbyists are too good, perhaps legislators didn’t hear from enough consumers, or maybe some legislators just don’t give a damn about voters. Whatever the case is, a repeal on Sunday liquor sales won’t be moving through commerce the commerce committees this session.

On a more positive note, small brewers in Minnesota were given 3 positive hearings. Bills allowing taprooms to open on Sundays, allow growler sales on Sundays, and allow brewers the option to fill growlers from other brewers were all laid over for possible inclusion into a larger liquor omnibus to be voted on sometime in the future. Of the 3 brewer bills that were heard only one had a similar version heard in the House committee. That means that a conference committee will be required to work out any possible differences between Senate and House versions of the omnibus liquor bills.

We are really excited to move forward with Sunday growler sales. I look forward to a day in the near future when we can host beer lovers from near and far in our new Marshall, MN taproom and send them home with a growler of locally brewed craft beer to enjoy with friends.
-Dustin Brau, Brau Brothers Brewing Brewmaster and CEO

It is great to see Minnesota craft brewers afforded the options already available to their farm winery counterparts. The easing of these restrictions will undoubtedly help Minnesota craft brewers well into the future.

S.F. 2374
HF 2513		 Reinert
Swedzinski		 Small brewers growlers sale on Sundays authorization.
Sunday liquor sales of growlers by small brewers allowed.
(matching language non-companion)
S.F. 2375 Reinert Sunday sales at taprooms authorization.
(house companion not heard)
S.F. 2029 Reinert Malt liquor brewers growler refill authorization.
(house companion not heard)
S.F. 2014
HF 2200		 Pappas
Atkins, Hoppe, Loeffler		 Microdistilleries sales expansion authorization.
Microdistillery sales expanded. (non-matching language companion)

Video of Senate Commerce Testimony
Audio of House Commerce Testimony

Also in the great news category is potential progress for Minnesota microdistilleries. They had a pair of bills laid over that included language allowing for cocktail room (think taproom). Some negotiating is still being worked on to allow microdistilleries to sell bottles of their product. Hopefully this happens soon, Minnesota wineries and breweries sell 750ml packaged versions of their products. Minnesota microdistilleries should have parity.

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES CALL TO ACTION

The legislature is quickly approaching the committee deadline.
House and Senate commerce chairs have not yet to added a full repeal version of Sunday liquor sales, or a local option to committee agendas. Passing Sunday sales this session will be an uphill battle if it doesn’t go through a committee.

YOU can get these bills into committee, but you must act fast.

  1. Make phone calls to your legislators.
    Always be courteous, but ask your representatives to support Sunday liquor sales. Ask them to push commerce leadership for hearings. This is an issue Minnesota voters support 2 to 1. It deserves a discussion even if they don’t support with it.
  2. Email your legislators.We have already sent out a form letter on your behalf. Take a minute to explain in your own words why the issue important to you. It doesn’t have to be long, just respectful and sincere.
  3. Ask your legislators to meet with you to discuss the issue.
    Meetings are the most effective and powerful way of communicating with legislators.

Find your Minnesota legislators and their contact information here: http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/

Recent news editorials worth discussing with your representatives
End Minnesota ban on Sunday liquor sales, but with limited municipal flexibility
Article by: EDITORIAL BOARD , Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/250402521.html

OUR OPINION: Let Minnesota liquor stores open on Sundays
Grand Forks Herald
http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/our-opinion-let-minnesota-liquor-stores-open-sundays

ANNOUNCEMENT: ST. PATRICK’S DAY REPEAL THE SUNDAY LIQUOR BAN RALLY AT FIRST AVE
Join MN Beer Activists, talented local musicians, supporting politicians, and special guests for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration to raise awareness and raise a pint.
http://first-avenue.com/event/2014/03/stpattys

Let’s end our legacy of prohibition. It is time Minnesota stopped sending money over the borders. Pick up the phone and make that phone call. We look forward to seeing you St. Patrick’s Day evening!

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Several Sunday liquor sales bills introduced as committee deadline approaches

Late last week Senator Roger Reinert (D) and House Deputy Minority Leader Jenifer Loon (R) held a press conference to introduce several bills to repeal Minnesota’s Sunday off-sale liquor prohibition.

The proposed Sunday liquor sales bills cover a wide range of options. The bills are designed to give legislators some form of Sunday prohibition repeal legislation they are comfortable with. It is 2014, it is time some form of action is taken to stop sending Minnesota money over state lines.

The most entertaining bill is the one that would restrict the sale of liquor on Saturdays. If 7 days a week are bad, and 6 days are better, 5 days must be great. Right? Right!

full spectrum of Sunday liquor prohibition repeal

One bill that seems to be getting a lot of traction is a Rep Sarah Anderson’s (R) bill to allow taprooms to sell growlers on Sundays. While grolwer sales on Sundays would be a great benefit to some taprooms, it wouldn’t help any of the off-sale retailers, nor would it help consumers that don’t live near a taproom. That is, if their local taproom would even choose to be open. It is all about having that choice, isn’t it?

The question still remains if any of the Sunday sales bills will get heard in the House Commerce Committee at all. We met with House Commerce Chairman Rep. Atkins (D) last week and would not assure any hearings. If you want a Sunday liquor sales to get a hearing NOW is the time to contact your reps and ask them to make sure it gets a fair shot. The deadline to get heard in committee is fast approaching 3/21. We know that polls show Minnesota voters support Sunday liquor sales 2 to 1. Even Representative Atkin’s own Facebook poll showed lopsided results in favor of repealing the Sunday sales ban.

[fb_embed_post href=”https://www.facebook.com/State.Rep.Joe.Atkins/posts/594718200576715/” width=”500″/]

Let’s hope some form of action takes place. Sunday Liquor sales work in 38 other states. If states like Wisconsin and Georgia can figure out Minnesota should, too.

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Duluth Senator Roger Reinert to host a Sunday liquor sales twitter conversation

#SundaySalesMN #ChatWithRoger

Duluth Senator Roger Reinert (D) @RogerForDuluth has announced plans to host a twitter conversation on Sunday liquor sales Thursday afternoon. The conversation will start at 12:15pm and use the hashtag #SundaySalesMN.

Feel free to jump in ask Roger all kinds of related questions. Invite your favorite brewpub, liquor store, taproom, or even opponent to join the conversation. Sunday liquor sales will mean added jobs, revenue, and convenience for Minnesota. Remember to be courteous, and let’s have some real talk!
#chatwithroger #SundaySalesmn

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

House Rep Mark Anderson to introduce Minnesota growler swapping legislation

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How many growlers do you own? Should Minnesota beer consumers be required to purchase a growler (or several) from every local brewery they choose to support? In my basement right now is a wide and varied collection of 64oz jugs from across the state.

canal park growlersWe are constantly being asked by brewers and consumers if there is a solution to their growing growler problems. Nobody wants to have 2 or 3 growlers from every brewery sitting in their basement. Like many other liquor issues Minnesota is behind the times.

“I’ve had a number of people stop by the taproom with growlers from other breweries wanting to get them filled. People traveling from other states that allow filling of any growlers are accustomed to this, said Patrick Sundberg of Jack Pine Brewery”

In Oregon a growler is defined as a refillable, securely-covered container, of two gallons or less. And many establishments, both on-sale and off-sale, can fill them for you. You might ask which brewer has their branding on all these growlers? Good question, but nobody in Oregon cares about the original branding as long as the growler meets TTB requirements. These requirements are commonly met with stickers bearing the requisite information.

What is the mandatory label information?
You must label your beer with this information:

Brewer name or trade name

Place of production – the place of production is the city, and, if necessary for identification, the state. The place of production must appear in direct conjunction with your name or trade name. If you operate more than one brewery you must choose one of these options:

Show all brewery locations on the label
Show the place of production on the label
Show your principal place of business on the label
In the event that you select to show all your locations or your principal place of business, rather than the place of production, you must also mark your label with a code to show which location actually produces the beer.

Net contents – show net contents as ½ gallon. You may use “64 ounces” in addition to but not in place of “½ gallon.”

Do not make a statement as to payment of internal revenue taxes.

Government warning label – use the guidelines above (see 27 CFR Part 16).

Can Minnesota do this with our growlers? We most likely already can. There is nothing Minnesota law saying brewers can’t reuse growlers as long as they comply with TTB regulations. However, always wanting to operate within the law, Minnesota brewers are understandably hesitant to just begin reinterpreting the law and start slapping stickers on jugs. And let’s be honest, some brewers may not want to fill growlers from other brewers.

Representative Mark Anderson (R-9A) has drafted legislation that would give Minnesota some much needed clarity in the area of refilling growlers.

(b) A brewer may, but is not required to refill a Container or bottle with malt liquor for off-sale the request of a Customer. A brewer refilling a container or bottle must do so at its licensed premises and the Container of bottle must be filled at the tap at the time of sale. A bottle or container refilled under this paragraph must be sealed and labeled in the manner described in paragraph (a).

No slouch when it comes to beer, Representative Anderson plans to open his own brewery near Gull Lake some time in the not too distant future. However, Anderson says his growler bill is purely constituent based. He had never thought about the growler problem until he was asked to address it.

The growler swapping bill makes a lot of sense for everyone involved. Lower cost to brewers on glass and storage, increased access for consumers, and increased environmental responsibility.

“Growlers are one of the lowest waste package(s) on the market.  Opening up the option for Minnesota breweries to fill ANY growler, as is possible in other states, further increases the sustainability of this package.”
– Patrick Sundberg, Jack Pine Brewery

The same old state requirements are still in play, of course. But if the Anderson’s growler legislation passes, it would be possible to see growlers with a MN Craft Brewers Guild logo on one side and a brewer’s sticker on the other side. A universal growler. Crazy, right? Not if you ask Oregon.

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St. Patrick’s Day Rally for Sunday Liquor Sales at First Avenue Featuring Romantica, White Iron Band, Silverback Colony and More!

Consumer rights advocacy group MN Beer Activists are proud to announce its inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Rally for Sunday liquor sales at the First Avenue mainroom at 7 pm on March 17, 2014. Featuring music from Romantica, White Iron Band, Silverback Colony and Mark Andrew, the event will raise money for the Minnesota Beer Activists’ efforts to legalize Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages in Minnesota.

“The mission of the MN Beer Activists is to raise awareness of alcohol-related issues that are outdated or harmful to consumers,” said MN Beer Activists director Andrew Schmitt. “The biggest of these is the prohibition on Sunday Sales, which literally sends money over our borders every single week. This concert is the highest-profile event we’ve ever done, and it should also be the most fun!”

St Patricks Day Rally for Sunday liquor Sales in MinnesotaThe St. Patrick’s Day concert event will feature performances by NBC’s The Voice contestant Mark Andrew, Silverback Colony, White Iron Band and Romantica and be hosted by Ian Rans of Drinking With Ian. The event will also feature opportunities to sign the MN Beer Activists’ Sunday Sales petition at SundaySalesMN.org, purchase MN Beer Activists merchandise and several other surprises.

Tickets for Rally for Sunday Sales are available now for $10 and will be $15 at the door.

Proceeds from the concert benefit the MN Beer Activists. For more information, visit SundaySalesMN.org or mnbeeractivists.com