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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Lawmakers roll out Sunday liquor bill

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sundaysales

Minnesota lawmakers have begun their recurring push to allow liquor stores to open on Sundays.

Identical

 Bills introduced this week in the House and Senate would repeal the state’s ban on Sunday sales.

Sen. Roger Reinert, DFL-Duluth, and Rep. Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie are the chief sponsors of the legislation.

During a news conference today, Loon said the bipartisan bill would provide freedom to businesses and consumers.

“We are one of only 12 states that still ban liquor sales on Sunday,” Loon said. “The time has come for this law to be changed and to be brought into the 21

st

century.”

Similar proposals have been tried in the past without success. But Loon and Reinert both said they believe 2015 is the session to pass a Sunday sales bill.

Reinert said there’s more momentum this time because public support is growing.

“Here we are a state that in the last couple of years has made marriage equality law, has dealt with the issue medical marijuana, but somehow liquor sales on Sunday is too much?,” Reinert asked. “That’s a bridge too far? I think the people of Minnesota are ready for this. Thirty-eight other states have figured out how to do it.”

The lawmakers were joined by several liquor store owners who support the legislation. David Hansen of Stillwater said his customers have told him they want to buy liquor on Sundays.

“We sell a legal product in a legal and responsible way, and I should have the choice to be able to do that on Sundays without government interference,” Hansen said.

Other business owners have raised concerns about the proposed change. The Minnesota Beer Wholesalers, the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association and the Teamsters are among the groups opposing Sunday sales.

Many legislators from both parties are also opposed.

Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, said he’s convinced that the same amount of liquor would be sold whether a store is open six days or seven. Limmer said he thinks small stores would be harmed by Sunday sales.

“The dollars aren’t really there, but the expenses for the little shops go up proportionately quite a bit,” Limmer said. “The big companies who can afford loss leaders are the ones who can live well in that type of environment, and chances are it will close the little businesses down.”

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has said he would sign a Sunday liquor measure if it reached his desk.

The bills have been referred to House and Senate commerce committees for potential hearings.