Letter to my Senator and Representative.

As many of you know, Minnesota has quite possible the dumbest liquor laws around. We can only buy beer, wine, and liquor in a liquor store. The liquor store has county mandated hours and a state mandate that they aren't open on Sundays. Also when it comes to breweries there is a whole cluster fuck of laws that I've started looking into. For example, if you're a package brewery you cannot sell your own product on site. If you're a brewpub you can only sell your product on site and cannot sell it in any other store or bar. Minnesota really is producing some damn good beers, but our laws are really prohibiting these companies from expanding in what I feel are logical ways. Surly would like to create a new 20 million dollar brewery with a restaurant, bar, and event center. Unlike the Minnesota Vikings who are asking tax payers to flip millions of dollars for their new home, Surly is asking for $0. They just want to be able to create this new brewery, which requires the change of some 80 year old laws.

I've felt pretty strong about a few political things which I try to keep out of this blog (one of which I was reminded of this morning while watching Good Morning America), but as a homebrewer I emailed my senator and representative. I strongly encourage my Minnesota readers to join me in doing the same. Go to this website to find out your local senator and representative: http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts Remember that you want to email the State ones, not the national ones which say "US". Below is an example of the letter I sent to mine:

 I'm writing you on behalf of the current liquor law changes which I've heard are being proposed.

The first one is the Surly Brewery expansion. I fully support their cause. I believe that currently our liquor laws on where beer is able to be sold are holding back Minnesota based companies from expanding. Breweries such as Surly and Summit could benefit by the legislation changing 80 year old laws. I would also like to see smaller brewpubs be able to sell their beer to other restaurants and stores using the current distribution method. As a homebrewer of beer myself, I've looked into what it takes to start a brewery. I feel that with today's laws I'm hesitant to jump into such an endeavor. If I knew that the state did not hinder me to expand my business if it should take off, then I'd be more interested in making the investment. In the beer brewing world, our great state is offering a lot to the American people. I would like to see us promote those businesses and allow them to grow. Not only is the business going to be benefiting, but also the state from the taxes and additional jobs these companies will produce. Surly, unlike some other major companies, is not asking for tax breaks or handouts. They simply want to expand.

The other change which I fully support is allowing liquor sales on Sundays. This "blue law" has run its course in time. I believe it's time to accept that it is the 21st century and prohibition ended in 1933. The taxes which the state will collect by changing this law seems like a no-brainier to me. We're hurting for money and this would be one simple way to collect additional taxes without a lot of effort or burden on the people of Minnesota. If you can buy beer in a bar on Sunday, why not allow people to purchase it at a store? Please vote yes. 

So please join me in changing these laws.

Prost!

-Ryan

UPDATE:

I got an e-mail back from Representative Carlson:

Thank you for writing to share your thoughts about the proposed Surly Brewery Company expansion. I want to share some information with you about what is happening in the legislature in regard to this issue.

As of today, there have been no bills introduced in either the House or the Senate that would allow for Surly Brewing Company to expand on their proposed scale.   However, I am aware that the president of Surly Brewing Company has been meeting with legislators to discuss the proposed expansion to their facility and I look forward to the opportunity to speak with him. I will continue to monitor this issue as the session progresses. In the event that legislation regarding this issue comes before me on the House floor, I will certainly keep your views in mind.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again in the future about this or any other issues.

Sincerely,

 

Lyndon Carlson

State Representative