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Capitol View®
Tom Scheck

House sponsor looks to move liquor bill without Sunday growlers

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Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, says he’s looking for ways to move a liquor bill without including a provision that would allow taprooms to sell growlers of beer on Sunday.

Atkins said he’s trying to find options because Senate DFL leaders said they will not act on the the liquor bill if the growler provision is included. He said the House is “back to the drawing board” on the bill.

“At this point, what I’m afraid of is that if we send something to them that has the growler language in it, then based on what happened yesterday, the bill simply won’t go anywhere.”

On Tuesday the Senate author of the liquor bill, Sen James Metzen, DFL-South St. Paul, pulled it from consideration after the Senators amended it to allow for craft brewers to sell growlers on Sunday.

Members of the Teamsters Union say allowing Sunday growler sales could force a reopening of their contracts with liquor distributors, which could put pay and working conditions on the bargaining table. Other opponents say Sunday growler sales would open the door to a broader push for Sunday liquor sales.

DFL Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said it’s possible that the Senate may not act on a liquor bill if advocates continue to push for the growler provision.

The craft brewing industry has been asking for Sunday sales of growlers – 64 ounce bottles of beer - from taprooms. They say it will help an emerging industry grow in Minnesota.

Atkins said the liquor bill contains other important items including extending bar closing times during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July and giving the University of Minnesota its preferred method of selling alcohol at TCF Bank stadium. The bill would also allow taprooms to open on Sunday.

“At this point we’re trying to throw a life preserver out to those other provisions,” Atkins said. “But I don’t know where they’re going to find a home at this point.”