Lawmakers, bar owners push for takeout booze

A bipartisan effort, with help from the Minnesota restaurant industry, is aiming to make it possible for people to get beer and wine from local restaurants as "carry-out."

Monday morning at the state Capitol, Rep. Jon Koznick, R.-Lakeville, led a meeting that went over the benefits and logistics. They are pushing for Gov. Tim Walz to sign an executive order to make it happen.

Group of legislators, restaurant owners pushes for takeout beer, wine

Rep. Koznick mentioned it would be the quickest way for restaurants to get relief and start selling their product. Some have as much as $8,000-$10,000 worth of alcohol that would be able to be sold if the proposal would pass.

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Here’s how it would work under the current proposal:

• Food must be ordered for take-out in order to purchase alcohol,
• Only beer and wine could be purchased with a limit on the number of ounces (Up to two bottles of wine or 12 cans/bottles of beer, depending on can/bottle size),
• Products must be sealed (no open-bottles).

Also at the meeting were restaurant owners and managers – including Jon Saji, general manager of B52 Burgers & Brew. They have two locations, one in Lakeville and the other in Inver Grove Heights, and said its business is down around 85%. Saji also mentioned he has a lot of beer and wine to sell.

"It will really help being able to move a lot of that sitting inventory," Saji said.

"It helps promote the possibility of hopefully bring back more staff. Including supporting my payroll that supports my family, as well as all of the great staff we have," Saji added.

Koznick mentioned they know alcohol isn’t a top priority but said jobs are, and that this will help. Work is being done to move this through as a bill, but Rep. Koznick said in light of how COVID-19 is slowing down the legislative process, an executive order would be the swiftest way to get it done.

It’s unclear if Walz is willing to take executive action to do so.