Minnesota Senate Bill SF1306

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/6/23

Caption

Commonly owned liquor stores transfer of wine authorization

Impact

The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 340A.412, by introducing a new subdivision that sets specific conditions under which the transfers can occur. According to the bill, the transferring licensee must inform the wholesaler from whom the wine was purchased, as well as the Division of Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement. The legislation imposes a limit whereby not more than one transfer can occur from each licensed premises within a three-month period, which aims to control and monitor movements of alcoholic beverages within the state.

Summary

SF1306, titled 'Commonly owned liquor stores transfer of wine authorization', proposes amendments to existing Minnesota statutes regarding the transfer of wine between liquor stores that are under common ownership. Specifically, the bill allows licensed off-sale liquor establishments to transfer wine inventory from one store to another, provided that both locations share the same licensee. This regulation aims to improve operational flexibility for business owners managing multiple liquor outlets, particularly in managing stock levels and responding to consumer demand.

Contention

While the bill appears to streamline operations for liquor store owners, there may be concerns regarding regulatory compliance and the oversight of alcohol distribution. The stipulation that only one transfer can be made every three months could potentially frustrate business operations if stores face sudden changes in demand. Additionally, stakeholders might have differing opinions on the degree of regulatory flexibility that should be allowed, raising questions about maintaining public safety while promoting entrepreneurial activity in the liquor sector.