Good political news for once: MN House votes to repeal Sunday booze ban!

[kydoty]

http://www.startribune.com/house-passes-bill-legalizing-sunday-sales-but-senate-will-be-tougher/414280863/

 

The Minnesota House passed a bill legalizing the retail sale of alcohol on Sundays, but forgetful tipplers who currently cannot buy their beer, wine and spirit beverages on the Christian sabbath will have to wait for Senate approval — an outcome still very much in doubt.

 

This is the first time in state history that a legislative chamber has passed a bill overturning the Sunday ban, a law that has been in effect since 1858 statehood and remained in place after Prohibition.

Recent elections have seen significant turnover at the Legislature, and among new lawmakers — of both parties — the Sunday ban has increasingly been viewed as an antiquated relic.

 

The House vote of 85-45 is a victory for Speaker Kurt Daudt, who unsuccessfully pushed for an end to the Sunday sales ban in 2015 and 2016. Daudt, who is considered a front-runner for the 2018 Republican nomination for governor, is trying to burnish his policy profile.

Ending the Sunday sale ban is a populist issue with which most Minnesotans are familiar, often when they realize they need beer for the Vikings game but have to drive to Wisconsin to get it. Polls have consistently shown a majority of Minnesotans want an end to the Sunday prohibition.

 

Minnesota is one of 12 states that prohibits Sunday sales, and all of Minnesota’s border states allow Sunday sales.

[Vanimal46]

It's about time. One of the silliest laws in the state for a long time.

[Craig Arko]

Fair bet the Senate will quash it, though.

[Vanimal46]

I'll be rooting for the motherland to figure it out one day. In Texas you can purchase beer and liquor any time after 12:00 PM on Sunday. Unless we're heading out early for day drinking, that minor rule doesn't impact our plans.

[jimmer]

And what would be the reasoning behind not being able to buy alcohol at certain times (especially Sundays)?

[kydoty]

 

And what would be the reasoning behind not being able to buy alcohol at certain times (especially Sundays)?

 

You're supposed to be in church at that time.  At least that's the reason those laws were formed back then.

[jimmer]

 

You're supposed to be in church at that time.  At least that's the reason those laws were formed back then.

Sorry, my question was a sarcastic rhetorical one.  Thanks though, cause yeah.  That's exactly why.  You should see some of the laws here in Utah concerning alcohol.  Oh boy.

[Squirrel]

We're drunk in Chicago 24/7 ... good luck in MN for a similar fate!

[glunn]

I like the fact that this may save a lot of gasoline that might otherwise be used crossing state lines to purchase alcohol on Sundays, as well as reduce the number of car accidents.

 

[Bark's Lounge]

 

Sorry, my question was a sarcastic rhetorical one.  Thanks though, cause yeah.  That's exactly why.  You should see some of the laws here in Utah concerning alcohol.  Oh boy.

I could be wrong about this, but I heard you have to join a membership at a bar in UT, to be able to consume alcohol. Bars are like a social club. Is that correct or even going in the right direction?

[jimmer]

 

I could be wrong about this, but I heard you have to join a membership at a bar in UT, to be able to consume alcohol. Bars are like a social club. Is that correct or even going in the right direction?

Not that I know of, but if you go to a restaurant type place, even a Buffalo Wild Wings, you can only drink if you get food.  Also, the alcohol % of beer when you buy it at, say, a convenience store, is lower than normal.

[Mike Sixel]

The latest "reason" is that if they are open on Sunday, they don't get any days off....well, you can choose to be open or not, if they change the law. Also, "sales won't go up, but my costs will".

[Willihammer]

 

I like the fact that this may save a lot of gasoline that might otherwise be used crossing state lines to purchase alcohol on Sundays, as well as reduce the number of car accidents.

Increasing the availability of alcohol will reduce car accidents?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I could be wrong about this, but I heard you have to join a membership at a bar in UT, to be able to consume alcohol. Bars are like a social club. Is that correct or even going in the right direction?

Yes, you need to be sponsored by another patron to buy a drink in a bar in Utah.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

The latest "reason" is that if they are open on Sunday, they don't get any days off....well, you can choose to be open or not, if they change the law. Also, "sales won't go up, but my costs will".

Yeah, sales won't go up. I've never been in a situation where I'd go buy more booze on Sunday after I ran through my existing stock. Never. I mean, that doesn't happen to people, right?

 

Also, no one ever drives to Hudson to buy booze on Sunday. It's unheard of in the Twin Cities.

[Squirrel]

Yeah, sales won't go up. I've never been in a situation where I'd go buy more booze on Sunday after I ran through my existing stock. Never. I mean, that doesn't happen to people, right?

 

Also, no one ever drives to Hudson to buy booze on Sunday. It's unheard of in the Twin Cities.

An excellent example of 'dripping with sarcasm.' Well done!

[Vanimal46]

 

Yeah, sales won't go up. I've never been in a situation where I'd go buy more booze on Sunday after I ran through my existing stock. Never. I mean, that doesn't happen to people, right?

 

Also, no one ever drives to Hudson to buy booze on Sunday. It's unheard of in the Twin Cities.

 

Nah, that would never happen. And when you're hosting a party on Saturday night close to running through your existing stock, everyone is courteous enough to leave some booze left over for Sunday.... 

[jimmer]

Yes, you need to be sponsored by another patron to buy a drink in a bar in Utah.

that hasnt been my experience.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

that hasnt been my experience.

I suspect many bars ignore the law but I've actually had to fill out the card to be sponsored.

 

Ah, just found why that's the case. Utah finally got rid of that dumbass law in 2009.

 

http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/themix/ci_12721457

[glunn]

 

Increasing the availability of alcohol will reduce car accidents?

My thought was that people driving across the state line to get alcohol on Sunday may cause at least a few accidents every year that could be avoided.

[DaveW]

Self driving cars will "solve" the alcohol drunk driving issue soon enough, in the meantime, ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft have done GREAT things in terms of curbing drunk driving violations and more importantly injuries and deaths.

Uber takes a lot of heat (justifiably), but I think the impact that they have had on lowering drunk driving can't be stated enough. I do think cities could do a bit more though, like suspending "no parking zones" from 2am to 8am, you shouldn't punish citizens by towing or ticketing their cars when they are making the RIGHT choice by leaving their car and taking home an uber or the like instead.

As far as Sunday Booze ban, nice to see Minnesota joining the 21st century, NYC which has lax Booze laws still has a stupid one for Sundays as well, as I think think they can sell between 6am and 11am or something. Not a major deal and most bodegdas don't even care, but pretty annoying if you are at an airport and want a bloody mary before a flight, or if you are trying to pick up a 12 pack on the way to the stadium.

Oklahoma still has 3.2 beer, which is so freaking pointless and counter productive...

I also remember being in DC for the Redskins vs Vikings game a few years ago, it was a 4pm start, but I remember each of the 3 states that border each other had different booze laws, I had to goto 2 different states in order to find a place open to sell some beer to take to a tailgate, again, just stupid and pointless.

[Vanimal46]

 

Oklahoma still has 3.2 beer, which is so freaking pointless and counter productive...

 

Even craft beers are 3.2? Those poor souls.... 

[DaveW]

Even craft beers are 3.2? Those poor souls....

You can buy normal beer at liquor stores, but the hours are bad, and it's served warm.

 

I think bars can serve it cold though

[kydoty]

So the bill passed through both legislators and Governor Dayton is going to sign it shortly. July 1st is when the ban is officially lifted.

 

The first Sunday afterwards is July 2nd. I'm going to buy booze on that day for no reason other than I can.