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Wine
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Wine in Grocery
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On November 7, 2006, voters in Massachusetts were given the choice on a ballot initiative to allow grocery stores to sell wine. Even though proponents spent $6.9 million (as of 11/1/06), the initiative was rejected 56% to 44%, opponents spent nearly $5.1 million. Click below to see articles from: The Boston Herald | The Boston Globe See the TV ads (for/against) here: Governor Candidates Debate Wine in Grocery (October '06) See it Here: Windows Media | Quicktime Past Wine in Grocery Headlines . . . Wine in Grocery Defeated Again in 2004! This
headline is beginning to get a little repetitive
this time of year, but for the fourth consecutive
year, the well-financed effort to allow grocery
stores to sell "wine with dinner" has been stopped
without passing a single committee. In fact this
year it didn't even get a vote! Since 2001,
Minnesota grocers have mounted a campaign of
lobbying and public relations to gain the right to
sell wine. They have claimed for a long time that
liquor stores have a monopoly on over-the-counter
wine sales, but don't seem to be satisfied with
following current Minnesota law and having a
separate liquor license such as Cub Liquor or
Byerly's Wines and
Spirits.
Wine in Grocery Defeated for 2003! For the
third consecutive year, the Minnesota Licensed
Beverage Association along with allies at the
Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association, Minnesota
Wine and Spirits Wholesale Association, and the
Minnesota Beer Wholesale Association, have turned
back attempts by the grocers to harm one of the "last bastions of small business in America" the
local liquor store. The defeat came this time in
the Senate Commerce Committee by a narrow 8-7
margin against wine in grocery. The Minnesota
Grocers Association plans to continue pushing for
wine in grocery in the future. So if you want to
help the MLBA keep wine away from the candy, join
the MLBA by calling Tony
Chesak
at 651-772-0910 or click here to print out an application.
Tony
Chesak For the second year in a row (as of 2002), the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) led the defeat against wine being sold in grocery stores. Our success has occurred because of the strength in numbers of MLBA membership and working with allies at the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association, Minnesota Wine and Spirits Wholesale Association, and the Minnesota Beer Wholesale Association. The House Commerce Committee voted more than 2-1 against the grocers. After the big defeat some thought the grocers would go away. But that is not the case. The grocers are coming back and MLBA is getting ready for them. Below are copies of correspondence intercepted by MLBA. Both the memorandum and the letter clearly state the intent of the grocers to fight again next year. MLBA will not let down its guard and is organizing now for the 2003 legislative battle.
While we prepare for next year, we need your help. Please join us in the fight. Now is the time to pull your own weight and help your fellow off-salers defeat wine and grocery once again. You can help by becoming a MLBA member. You can assist in meeting with legislative candidates and working to elect those people that support small businesses. But if you do not have the time, please make a small financial investment by joining MLBA today. Do yourself a favor and join your fellow retailers in the fight. If you would like to discuss possible membership and have questions, call me at 651-772-0910 metro, or 1-800-967-2029 non-metro. You can also reach me on my cell phone at 612-670-3633. On February 20, 2002 the House Commerce, Jobs, and Economic Development Committee voted down HF 1205 by a hand-vote of 15-7. The bill had been amended to give cities the ability to issue wine licenses to grocery stores, and to restrict the sale of small bottles (under 750 ml) to help prevent shoplifting. MLBA Board member Bruce Knowlan testified against the bill, and his testimony can be heard below. A 17 year old Sober School student, Steve German, also testified in opposition of the bill. His testimony can be heard below also. Bruce Knowlan's Testimony RealAudio | QuickTime (5 min) Steve German's Testimony RealAudio | QuickTime (2 min)
Wine in Grocery Bill Withdrawn for 2001 A sub committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives voted 5-2 in favor of wine being sold in grocery stores. The proposal allowed wine sales in grocery stores with at least 10,000 square feet and in the seven county metro area. The committee members voting for wine in grocery were Rep. Matt Entenza, (D, St. Paul); Rep. Bob Gunther, (R, Fairmont); Rep. Tom Hackbarth, (R, Cedar); Rep. Jeff Johnson, (R, Plymouth); Rep. Doug Stang, (R, Cold Spring). Those voting against were Rep. Joe Mullery, (D, Minneapolis); and Rep. Tom Rukavina, (D, Virginia). After the vote, the bill moved to the full Commerce committee. MLBA along with the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association (MMBA) worked hard to create a coalition with wholesalers, local law enforcement and public health groups to oppose the bill. Members statewide made phone calls, wrote letters and sent emails asking legislators to vote against the proposal. The effort worked when the grocers pulled the bill before the final vote by the Commerce committee. Political insiders credited the work of MLBA and MMBA while some legislators that wanted to vote for the proposal considered the lobbying effort to be to forceful. As one off-saler stated, "What do these people expect me to do, stand by and quietly watch someone vote to eliminate my business?" Because the author pulled the bill no vote occurred in the committee, however, the following legislators had been identified as voting against wine in grocery; Tom Bakk, Karen Clark, Ron Erhardt, Chris Gerlach, Bill Haas, Dan Larson, Rob Leighton, Arlon Lindner, Tim Mahoney, Paul Marquart, Joe Mullery, Joe Opatz, Tom Rukavina, Tony Sertich and Dale Walz. MLBA members are encouraged to thank these legislators for opposing wine in grocery stores. The author of the wine in grocery bill, Rep. Barb Sykora, (R, Excelsior), vowed to bring the bill back during the 2002 legislative session. MLBA and MMBA are already working to oppose the effort. To help, contact MLBA at (651) 772-0910 or 800-967-2029. Listen to several clips from MLBA Past President, Colin Minehart, following the withdrawal of Wine in Grocery legislation for 2001. Clip 1: Colin responds to claims that unethical lobbying tactics were used. Audio Clips from MLBA's Executive Director Listen to several clips from MLBA Executive Director, Jim Farrell, debating Wine in Grocery legislation with Nancy Christensen of the MN Grocers Assn. Clip 1: Why shouldn't grocery stores be able to sell wine? Get a RealPlayer Here | Get a QuickTime Player Here
Senate File 1107-----------House File 1205
Multinational Food Wholesalers Manipulate Grocers Association On November 17, 2000, the Minnesota Grocers Association announced that it will work toward the passage of a new law allowing the sale of wine in grocery stores. In making the announcement, the Grocers said they supported law enforcement stings and they would prevent underage access to alcohol. The card below will be distributed to grocery customers.
MLBA has predicted this would happen and is prepared to fight back. As we mobilize our members we are always seeking input. Please contact MLBA at 651.772.0910 and get involved.
Will We Find Wine in Grocery Stores and Convenience Stores for the New Millennium? Kathy
Huber The effort is so strong that the city attorney wrote a memo to the city council that claims, "Because this type of off-sale license is unique in Minnesota, staff presented the proposal to the State Liquor Control Commission for comment before the City proceeded too far. The State had no problem with the concept…" Upon reading the memo, Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) members asked our Executive Director to verify whether state officials had agreed with the proposal and to determine where in statute or rule the state granted such licensing authority. As suspected, our Executive Director found out that the memo was not accurate. The position of the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division of the Department of Public Safety contradicts the claim that the state had no problem with the concept. According to the department, all off-sale licensees must possess a "full off-sale liquor license" and the establishment must be completely separate from other businesses without an internal entrance. There is no authority to create Class B licenses. As you can see, the pressure to loosen control of Minnesota's sixty-year history of controlling the sale of alcohol is under attack. At a time when both state and local governments are conducting "sting" operations to determine if alcohol is being sold to individuals under 21, multinational food wholesalers and retailers are trying to increase access to alcohol. This latest attempt to circumvent the law and the misleading memo are reasons why off-sale license holders need to ring the warning bell. We are the people that the citizens of Minnesota have entrusted with the responsibility of controlling alcohol sales. We need to be good stewards of that trust and start warning the people we serve. If you are an off-sale license holder, now is the time to get active. Contact MLBA's office 651.772.0910 or 800.967.2029 and the staff will inform you on how to get involved. |
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