Tag Archives: SundaySalesMN

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

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

Sunday liquor sales, a call to action

MN Beer Activists are putting out a call to action for beer lovers across the state of Minnesota to help finally legalize the sale of liquor, wine, and beer on Sundays.

38 states allow Sunday liquor sales, including every state that surrounds Minnesota. It is time to give Minnesota consumers and retailers the choice. Let’s stop sending our hard earned money over the borders. Politicians can stop pretending they are worried about the impact on “Mom & Pop liquor stores.” The fact is there plenty of small independent stores in states where Sunday liquor sales are legal. Just follow one of the hundreds of MN license plates over to Superior, or Hudson, and take a look. Mom & Pop are going to be just fine.

“Commerce is well enough established as seven days and nights a week now, ” Dayton said. “For us to say it doesn’t apply to this or doesn’t apply to that really doesn’t make much sense. There are an increasing number of Minnesotans for which Sunday isn’t a religious holiday.”

Opponents and prohibitionists will stand by old arguments, claiming that Sundays won’t add any more sales, or that stores will be forced to open. In reality, Sunday is the second busiest shopping day of the week, and any store that doesn’t want to open won’t have to. Plenty of banks and barbers make these choices every week without a government mandate. When Colorado passed Sunday beer sales the increased revenue was credited with bringing liquor stores through tough economic conditions. How’s that for 6 days of sales across 7 days?


For probably the first time ever Sunday liquor sales has a real chance of passing this year. Governor Dayton has said he will sign a Sunday sales bill, and House leaders Thissen & Daudt have said 2014 could be the year. However, with all the bipartisan support the Sunday sales bill still faces opposition from leadership. The Sunday liquor bill will need to be heard and passed in the House and Senate Commerce Committees. Committee Chairs Representative Joe Atkins (D) and Senator Jim Metzen (D) are may not give the bill fair committee hearings without receiving a large amount of public pressure. This is how you can help.

Visit SundaySalesMN.Org 30 seconds and 1-click is all it takes. Then, share it with your friends and social media using the hashtag #SundaySalesMN


The most effective thing you can do is call!
Find your own legislators here, but be sure to call and email these leaders below.

Senate Majority Leader Thomas M. Bakk (03, DFL) 651-296-8881
Email: Use Mail Form

Senate Minority Leader David W. Hann (48, R) 651-296-1749
Email: Use Mail Form

Senate Commerce Chair James P. Metzen (52, DFL) 651-296-4370
Email: sen.jim.metzen@senate.mn

Speaker of the House Paul Thissen (DFL, 61B) 651-296-5375
Email: rep.paul.thissen@house.mn

House Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL, 64A) 651-296-8799
Email: rep.erin.murphy@house.mn

House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R, 31A) 651-296-5364
Email: rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn

House Deputy Minority Leader Jenifer Loon (R, 48B) 651-296-7449
Email: rep.jenifer.loon@house.mn

House Commerce Chair Joe Atkins (D, 52B) 651-296-4192
Email: Use Mail Form

sunday liquor sales minnesota #sundaysalesmn

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Caucusing for Sunday Liquor sales

Time to get active!

Minnesota Beer Activists are urging supporters of ending the prohibition on Sunday liquor sales to go out to the caucuses Tuesday evening and get involved. Minnesota’s precinct caucuses will be held
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
mn caucus finder
Precinct caucuses are meetings organized by Minnesota’s political parties, typically on the first Tuesday in February of a statewide election year. Minnesota’s major political parties must hold Caucuses at least every statewide election year. Other political parties may also choose to hold caucuses. It is the first step for the party to select candidates and choose the party’s goals and values (called the party platform).

Below are sample resolutions you can take with you to your caucus.
DFL Sunday liquor sales resolution – Right-click to Download
GOP Sunday liquor sales resolution – Right-click to Download

mn beer caucus

Support your candidates

It is not only important to introduce resolutions, it is important to support the legislative candidates that support listening to voters and repealing the Sunday liquor sales ban.

Candidates that we know support Sunday liquor sales –

Senate
Carlson
Dibble
Pappas
Reinert

House
Anderson, M.
Anderson, S.
Drazkowski
Falk
FitzSimmons
Freiberg
Hausman
Hertaus
Hilstrom
Hornstein
Kahn
Kieffer
Lesch
Liebling
Lien
Loeffler
Loon
Myhra
Norton
Paymar
Peppin
Pugh
Simonson
Woodard

Who can attend a caucus?

  • Precinct caucuses are open to the public. But in order to vote, offer resolutions, or become a delegate, you must:
  • Be eligible to vote in the fall election.
  • Live in the precinct.
  • Be in general agreement with the principles of the political party (Minnesota does not have an party registration process).

What happens at a caucus?

  1. Elect precinct officers who work to organize political activities in the precinct. This could include maintaining contact lists, convening political meetings and helping with campaign efforts.
  2. Discuss issues and ideas for the party to support. People may bring ideas, called resolutions, to be voted on. People usually bring a typed or handwritten copy of their resolution.
  3. Vote for the person you want the party to support for governor or president. This is called the straw poll, which is an informal poll to learn how much support each candidate has. Candidates are officially chosen at future meetings, called conventions.
  4. Elect delegates to represent your precinct at upcoming political conventions that are held during an election year. The first are the political party’s county or district conventions. At these conventions, delegates endorse candidates to represent the county or district, and then choose a smaller number of delegates for the party’s congressional and state conventions. These delegates will endorse candidates to represent the congressional district or statewide offices such as governor or U.S. Senator.
Newsfeed

Prohibition – Where are we now?

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January 17th, 1920, the 18th Amendment, commonly known as prohibition, went into effect. The Amendment effectively outlawed the manufacture, sale, transportation, or importation of intoxicating liquors across the nation. The change put brewers, distributors, and retailers out of business, increased the scope and power organized crime, and turned hard working Americans into scofflaws.

When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened; and crime has increased to a level never seen before.
-John D. Rockefeller, Jr. June, 1932

Prohibition, or The Failed Experiment as it came to be known, was eventually overturned 13 years later with the passing of the 21st Amendment. The 21st amendment nullified Prohibition and bestowed powers of liquor regulation to individual states.

With the control of intoxicating liquors many states embraced popular public sentiments, while other states imposed teetotaling regulations that lasted for decades. Mississippi was dry until 1966. Minnesota didn’t allow restaurants to serve alcohol on Sunday until 1967. Kansas didn’t allow alcohol until 1948, and they didn’t legalize public bars until 1987.

Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcoholSome states and municipalities inserted themselves into the liquor commerce in an effort to encourage moderation and likely maximize revenue. Pennsylvania created the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to “discourage the purchase of alcoholic beverages by making it as inconvenient and expensive as possible.” The PLCB controls licensing, distribution, storage, sale, and virtually every aspect of commerce related to wine, spirits, and beer in the keystone state. Minnesota didn’t go as far as PA, but the land of 10,000 lakes does have 266 municipal liquor operations. The most recent data available shows some Minnesota Muni stores like Flensburg and Rushford have operated at a loss of over 100k/yr.

So, where we now? Pennsylvania is looking at privatizing their liquor operations. Alabama just became the last state to legalize homebrewing. Kansas only has 13 counties that remain dry. Here in Minnesota consumer still can’t buy liquor, wine, or beer in a store on Sunday.

beer in not a crimeIt has been ninety-four years since prohibition went into effect and Minnesotans are still being restricted by a failed experiment from a bygone era. Every state surrounding Minnesota has Sunday liquor sales. The restriction puts Minnesota business owners at a competitive disadvantage. Possibly the worst aspect of Minnesota’s off-sale Sunday liquor ban is the fact that it punishes responsible consumers for absolutely no sensible reason. The fact that liquor sales are allowed 6 days a week makes it clear that buying liquor is ok. The fact that you can buy liquor in a bar on Sundays makes it clear that the state says it is ok to buy liquor on Sunday. So, if liquor is ok any day of the week, why do we continue the prohibition of Sunday liquor store sales in Minnesota?

The Minnesota Beer Activists have been invited to a Town Hall Forum being hosted by The Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota to address Sunday liquor sales in Minnesota. The Fightin’ Words Podcast, by Walter Hudson, was kind enough to underwrite the cost of our table. We are looking forward to an honest and open discussion about what possible changes to the existing law could mean for Minnesota. The panel will consist of several interested parties including Minnesota House Representative Steve Drazowski (R- Mazeppa). Representative Drazkowski has consistently pushed for the repeal of Sunday liquor prohibition. The forum is open to anyone, and we would love to have consumers come participate. The RLCMN is asking for a donation of $5 at the door. There will be a limited menu and bar available.

Details:
Sunday Liquor Sales Town Hall
Mermaid
2200 Hwy 10, Mounds View, Minnesota 55112
6:30-7p Social
7-8p Town Hall Forum
8-? Shenanigans
Limited menu and bar available.

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