After two major brewing companies announced they will no longer produce the lower-strength beer that can be sold in Minnesota grocery and convenience stores, Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point) is renewing her call to modernize the state’s liquor laws. Senator Housley is calling on the legislature to act on her bill, introduced during the 2019 session, that would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell off-sale beer and wine.

“We’re two decades into the new millennium, but our liquor laws still reflect an era of Prohibition. It’s time to end the government monopoly, especially on a product so readily available in every one of our neighboring states,” said Senator Housley, vice chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee. “We knew it was only a matter of time before the market demanded we bring our liquor laws in line with the rest of the nation. As the production of 3.2 beer continues to zero out, grocery and convenience stores will soon have no choice but to lock the cooler doors indefinitely – ultimately resulting in fewer choices and higher costs for the consumer.”

In separate letters to industry representatives, executives from HEINEKEN USA and Constellation Brands cited Minnesota’s position as the sole remaining state to limit alcohol sales at grocery and convenience stores to 3.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) beer as the primary reason for their decisions to end its production.

“Now that Minnesota is the last state that still limits grocery and convenience stores to selling 3.2 percent beer, our company has stopped new production of 3.2 percent beer and is in the process of depleting our current inventory,” said Laurens van de Rotte, senior vice president and chief operations officer at HEINEKEN USA, which includes the Heineken, Dos Equis, Tecate, Amstel Light, and Newcastle Brown Ale brands.

“The one state remaining that mandates only 3.2 percent beer be sold to and through certain retail channels is Minnesota. As a result of […] the significant reduction in 3.2 percent volume, Constellation will cease production of all 3.2 percent brands and packages effective immediately,” said John P. Utter, senior vice president for Constellation Brands, which includes Corona, Modelo Especial, Victoria, and Pacifico beers.

In addition to introducing legislation for off-sale beer and wine sales at grocery and convenience stores, Senator Housley also introduced a bill to ‘Save the Growler’, a bill for a constitutional amendment to let voters weigh in on the issue, and several other related bills in 2019. Those bills will still be active for the 2020 legislative session, which begins on February 11.

“A lot has changed in Minnesota. In a time where brick-and-mortar grocery stores are facing competitive pressures from all sides, including online sales, industry statistics suggest beer and wine sales could significantly increase trips to the grocery store – and basket sizes. The demands of the consumers are changing, and our laws should reflect that. I have every intention of making an aggressive push in this session to update our antiquated liquor laws,” said Senator Housley.

Senator Karin Housley, of St. Marys Point, represents the Forest Lake area and the St. Croix River Valley in the Minnesota Senate. Senator Housley serves as chairwoman of the Family Care and Aging Committee and is an assistant majority leader.