Sunday Sales in Minnesota: Moving Forward

Sunday Sales in Minnesota: Moving Forward

For background, see this recent thread:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/mn-sunday-sales.387720/

Forward:
I am no longer employed at retail, and neither drink as much nor as often as I did in my youth, and I do not entertain at home. As such, "I don't have a dog in this fight" as the saying goes. However...

In private discussions I have maintained --and my opinion can't be too controversial-- that constructive efforts go much further, especially in creating a spirit of community, than do efforts to impugn the character or integrity of an individual or his/her employer -- more on that later.

Craft and Specialty Beer in Minnesota circa 2016
What a time to be alive! Seriously, folks.

Between Minnesota's burgeoning beer industry and the availability of packaged beer at retail, our beer market ranks among the best in the country. But from the standpoint of maximum consumer choice, the Minnesota marketplace is far from the ideal that we would like it to be.

Here are two rhetorical questions:

Why is it that we can't buy full strength beer, wine, and liquor in a retail setting on a Sunday?

Why have there been so few outward expressions of support for Sunday Sales on 'beer social media', such as the forums on this very website (Beer Advocate), Rate Beer, 'reddit', and so forth?

Pre-2016: Challenges to the Status Quo
In 2016 the State of Minnesota has seen more than a decade of efforts to change state law as it pertains to breweries, especially at the Craft Beer level.

The fact is, these efforts have been mostly successful ones, and relatively recent legal changes have benefited both small breweries and brewpubs, as well as larger-scale breweries. For the benefit of the (conversational) tone I have set out on I will here refer to these changes by their colloquial, rather than their legal names: The 2001 - 2006 "Growler Bills", and the 2011 "Surly Bill."

As a result of the passage of these laws, both Craft Beer breweries and consumers are better off for these changes to state law. Essentially, we all benefit from more choice and a stronger consumer economy, along with more tax dollars benefited, an increase in the total number of jobs, and so forth.

But we are now five or six years into the active efforts to change the laws pertaining to Sunday Sales, and the average everyday 'Joe or Jane Craft Beer-lover' is still behind the eight ball on this issue. Harried Thirtysomething parents and hard-partying college students alike find themselves forced to distraction and exasperation as they put wear-and-tear on their Prius, beat-up Volvo or family truckster, and dedicate one day a week to spend their hard-earned dollars at retailers in Wisconsin, Iowa, or North and South Dakota.

Why do they have to go to that extra effort?

Why is this issue so hotly-contested, and why are these laws so entrenched?

Recent Events
in 2016, efforts to change existing state law, and to thereby allow a new, more reasonable approach to the issue of Sunday Sales at retail have once again been struck-down at the state level. This was a huge blow to many, especially as they have been campaigning tirelessly to affect this particular change.

One Minnesota brewery (LTD Brewery) even brewed and packaged a small batch beer in support of Sunday Sales - Sunday Sales Pale Ale, bolstering last minute awareness of the issue at the state level:



Ongoing Efforts
Proponents of Sunday Sales have cited polling data suggesting that an overwhelming majority of the public support Sunday Sales in Minnesota.

I am not a professional pollster, let alone a mathematician or demographer, but this data would suggest that 2/3rds of the licensed beverage retailers in the State of Minnesota -- hundreds of retailers -- support the idea of Sunday Sales.

While these are family owned, single-unit ("mom n' pop") retailers, there can be no doubt that hundreds more zoned retail (convenience store, grocery, co-ops, other) locations are also in favor of Sunday Sales.

Opposition to Sunday Sales
So why does the measure fail each year, at the State level?

While I am no longer in beverage retail, I have heard countless tales told and re-told, of retailers who are generally on-board with Sunday Sales but who won't speak up for fear of reprisal -- mainly by being short-ordered or back-ordered on items ordered and which are delivered by their wholesale suppliers.

Granted, these stories are "re-tells", and thus unsubstantiated, but there is a ring of truth to them.

So what are the facts regarding opposition to Sunday Sales? I don't know, but I welcome those who have a timeline of the opposition to make such a timeline public, and bring all of this to light.

In the meantime, the polling data suggest that the general public is in favor of Sunday Sales.

Controversy and Public Backlash
Very recently, the beer buyer for a well-known specialty beer retailer engaged in an exchange concerning the topic of Sunday Sales in Minnesota, on a popular social media platform. Those who followed this exchange recognize that it wasn't an altogether friendly one, and it became less friendly, still, in subsequent ancillary exchanges.

I am not in a position to lecture anyone on social graces or proper etiquette. Far from it!

I will, however, suggest that that there's a better way to get your point across to the 14% of the undecided public. To my mind, almost any approach would be more productive than engaging in a Twitter exchange singling-out an individual retailer (and employee) who does not agree with you on a particular topic.

Public Backlash and Outcome
Was this individual in the wrong? Was the retailer? Just as in the instance of retailers hiking the price on limited availability retail placements of Surly's outrageously-popular Darkness, this is a matter for each of us to decide for ourselves, as individual consumers.

Meanwhile, let's get back to making an effort to move forward. Principally, make an effort to showcase the benefits to the economy which Sunday Sales will have. Likewise, support those retailers who DO actively support Sunday Sales in Minnesota.

Benefits to the Minnesota Economy of Sunday Sales
What possible benefits could be derived from Sunday Sales in Minnesota?

The following list is based based on suggestions I've seen made by others:
- Free Markets Decide
- Increase to Tax Base
- Increase in Jobs Base
- Increase in Beer Tourism (IMPORTANT!)
- Increase in Public Pride*

If you feel like adding to this list or elaborating in any way, by all means do so!

(* "Reduction in the shame Minnesotans feel at living in a backward, Parochial Flyover State", didn't fit comfortably on that line. ^_^ )

Open Support for Sunday Sales at Retail -- A List of Retailers
So far there are at least several dozen beverage retailers (some with multiple locations) that have expressed an above-board opinion in favor of Sunday Sales. The list below is only a partial example of said support:

- Booze Mart (West St Paul)
- Stinson Wine, Beer, and Spirits (Minneapolis)
- Total Wine - Six Locations in Minnesota
- Chicago-Lake Liquor (Minneapolis)
- Ace Wine and Spirits (Hopkins)
- Vom Fass - Mall of America (Bloomington)
- Liquor Boy (St Louis Park)
- Bayport Liquor (Bayport)
- Hollywood Roadhouse - on - and - off-sale (New Germany)
- St. Anthony Village Wine And Spirits - two locations (St. Anthony Village)
- On The Rocks Wine and Spirits (Hugo)

-- from the "Sunday Sales Pale Ale" screen shot:
- Mac's Liquors (Hopkins)
- Liquor Store And More (Hopkins)
- US Liquor and Wine (Minnetonka)
- GV Liquor Barrel (Golden Valley)
- Bottle Stop Crystal (Crystal)
- Old Vine Wine And Spirits (MOA / Bloomington)
- Booze Mart (West St. Paul) -- duplicate listing (see above)

I encourage everyone who reads this to "vote with your dollars" as it were, and likewise encourage everyone to add to the list, above. Perhaps even create a database? (Not me. My skillz can't pay the bills, yo.)

Final Suggestion
This will sound like a very trite thing to say, but:

Be proactive. Specifically, focus on the positive aspects of change.

There is resistance to change, and this is no less true whether it's considered as a universal concept or as it pertains to Sunday Sales in Minnesota. But focus on the larger goal at hand: changing the minds of those members of the voting public who are undecided, and who will then bring their concerns to their elected representatives.

Ultimately, it's only a matter of time before Sunday Sales is a day-to-day reality in Minnesota, and it's important to prepare for that reality. To my mind it's certainly more important to take a positive approach to the issue than it is to engage in a back-and-forth with those who presently don't agree with you and who may never agree with you on this particular issue.

I sincerely hope that those who see this change as progress for the public good can work together in a forthright and productive manner to promote the change they believe in, while also being respectful to those who happen to disagree with their efforts, and who are also in the minority of the voting population of the state of Minnesota.

Resources:
Minnesota Beer Activists
Sunday Sales Minnesota
Sunday Sales Pale Ale (additional information)

 

But what about the MMBA?

Oh yeah, I forgot: Their position is very clear on Sunday Sales.

P.S. Hake a look at their Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Supporting members.

 

Heck, I'm even older than you. I bought my phone from Consumer Cellular.

I had rather hoped that this thread would emphasize constructive efforts to move forward, and discussing ways to work with others (including those at local, State, and legislative level) to resolve the issue.

On the other hand, this is Beer Advocate, after all, and Jim Sebring is all out of bubblegum: