Minnesota Senate defeats bid to open up Sunday liquor sales
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota senators have voted down a plan to allow liquor stores to open on Sundays.
The 35-28 vote Thursday was the narrowest loss for advocates in recent memory and some predicted they would tip the tide before long.
Minnesota is among a dozen states that prohibits liquor store sales on Sunday. It’s a system that some owners support out of concern it wouldn’t help their profits but increase their costs. Opponents of the ban say Minnesota is losing business to neighboring states because of a law they consider antiquated.
The bill does allow craft breweries to sell 64-ounce growlers of beer on Sundays and would permit bars to open up earlier on Sundays. Currently, they can’t start serving until 10 a.m. The bill moves it to 8 a.m.