Two Popular Items Remain Banned At Grocery Stores In Minnesota

While state legislators DID make several changes to some of Minnesota's long-standing laws, they didn't touch the law that makes it illegal for grocery stores to sell these two popular items.

You might have heard about the massive omnibus bill the 2024 Minnesota state legislature passed at the close of this year's session. (Minn Post notes the 1,430-page bill combined nine different bills.) And while it contained several updates to Minnesota's liquor laws, one law was NOT updated.

And it's the law that concerns two popular items you can buy at grocery stores in just about every other state except here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Because those two items remain banned at grocery and convenience stores across Minnesota.

So just what popular items can grocery stores not legally sell here in the North Star State? Why, that would be wine and beer. (Well, and other liquor, as well, of course.)

Now, grocery stores in the Bold North *can* sell beer, but as we all know, the beer that grocery stores can legally sell in Minnesota is that strange '3.2' beer, or 'near beer' as it's sometimes called. And the Gopher State is currently the *only* state where that product (which contains less alcohol by volume than regular beer) is still sold.

READ MORE: 10 Things People From WI Secretly Think About MN

Much like last year, grocery and convenience store owners hoped that the Minnesota legislature might pass a bill allowing them to sell regular beer and wine. But also like last year, a proposal to change that law was not taken up. (Axios Twin Cities has a list of just which Minnesota liquor laws changed HERE.)

Earlier this year, this Minn Post (MP) story said that DFL Senator Matt Klein was working on a compromise that would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell 'strong' beer. Allowing wine sales was not part of that proposed bill, but it doesn't matter anyway, since even Klein's compromise bill wasn't passed.

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Though other factors were also involved this year, this MP story notes several reasons legislators put the kibosh on moving Minnesota's outdated liquor laws forward, but it still apparently comes down to the alcohol bill the Legislature passed in 2022.

That was the 'Free The Growler' law which, after being previously stymied, FINALLY passed two years ago. It's the law that finally allowed craft breweries to sell more of their own beer.

So until next year, the next chance legislators have to actually *do* their jobs and pass a bill of which many Minnesotans are in favor, if you want to get your fix of wine or beer here in the Land of 10,000 Ridiculously Outdated Laws Lakes, you'll still have to hit up your local liquor store (which I love, btw.) At least they're now allowed to be open on Sundays, right?

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