Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(June 7-13, 2009)
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for the
As I see it...
 
Checking ID
 
As I See It...............

Checking for proper and valid identification is what I believe to be the most important aspect of our job in the liquor industry.

Bob Leslie, the municipal liquor store manager from Pelican Rapids, just completed two Beverage Alcohol Trainings with the City of Delano.

Bob has been facilitating these training sessions for many years, and he does a great job of conveying the essentials of checking identification and refusing sales when necessary.

The City of Delano has adopted a program called "RU21". This program allows any establishment within the city to meet certain criteria, and if the criteria is met and the establishment fails a compliance check, the consequences would be less severe then what it would be if they did not belong to the program.

For the last two years the city has had Bob and Paul from the MMBA conduct the Beverage Alcohol Training and have opened it up to all businesses in the city that sell alcohol.  The City pays for the training and it is then offered to businesses free of charge for their staff. This sends a message to others within the City that we are doing all that we can to control the sale of alcohol within our City.

As we come into the summer months of parties and an increase in underage consumption of alcohol, it is important to remind all staff to look closely at identification and like Bob says over and over again "DO THE MATH"... (Editor's Note: ... and look for the "Under 21" box around the photo!) 
 
It is so easy for all of us to become complacent when checking ID's. I post reminders for my staff in the break room, and by the cash registers. I may take them down for periods and then re-post big and bold so that they notice something new.
 
DO THE MATH... (and look for the "Under 21" box) ......Thanks to Bob Leslie for doing training!

Nancy Drumsta
Delano Wine & Spirits Manager
MMBA Director
 
 

Worthington Police Department and Liquor Store Team Up to Fight Underage Drinking
 
Worthington 
By: Justine Wettschreck
      Worthington Daily Globe

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), alcohol is the most commonly used drug among minors. Still, many adults turn a blind eye to underage drinking, even going so far as to provide beer and booze to those who are not old enough to buy it themselves.

But in Nobles County, anyone charged and convicted of giving alcohol to a minor may have to find another place to purchase their own in the future, because the Worthington Municipal Liquor Store (WMLS) won't sell it to them.

"If you are convicted of furnishing alcohol to a minor in Nobles County, you are banned from purchasing alcohol at the municipal store for a year," explained Worthington Police Officer Darin Vossen. "You will get a letter in the mail from me, and your name and mug shot will be given to the liquor store."

 "As long as the authorities can supply us with a picture and give us a statement that they want this person withheld from purchasing alcohol for a period of time, we're going to honor that," Johnson said. "If they are buying alcohol for minors, we don't want them here."

A Minnesota statute states it is unlawful for any person to sell, barter, furnish or give alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age. Doing so is a gross misdemeanor, or if the consumption of alcohol by a minor leads to a death or great bodily harm, the person who handed the alcohol to the minor could face felony counts.

There is also a civil law that applies to damages caused by illegal furnishing, so the person who furnished the alcohol could find themselves facing a civil suit.

Johnson said the idea of not selling to a person convicted of giving alcohol to minors is a good one.

"I think it is something that is probably needed," he stated. "It is not our line of business to serve minors. We are here to make money for the city, but as a community-minded business, it is our job to protect kids."

In 2006, more than 4,000 people under the age of 21 were cited for driving while impaired (DWI) in Minnesota.

The 2006 Minnesota Impaired Driving Facts report states 10 percent of all people cited for DWI in Minnesota were underage.

The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) states the cost of underage drinking in Minnesota in 2005 exceeded $915 million. The costs include medical care, work loss and pain and suffering costs. Among teen mothers, fetal alcohol syndrome alone cost Minnesota $13.2 million.

Annually across the United States, about 5,000 youths under 21 die from motor vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries and homicides and suicides that involve underage drinking. Two-thirds of sexual assaults and date rapes among teens and college students are alcohol-related, and almost half of teen suicides involve alcohol. Other problems related to underage drinking include sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, school delinquency, failure and dropout, depression, psychological difficulties and homicide.
 


Brooklyn Center Liquor Partners with Surly Brewing to Sell "Darkness" at Fall Festival
Brooklyn Center 
By Wendy Erlien- SUN NEWSPAPERS
 
Those dedicated to the "Darkness" will likely get a taste of it this fall.

A partnership between Brooklyn Center and Surly Brewing Co. has resulted in the city's liquor store agreeing to sell Darkness beer during Surly's annual festival in October.

"We spoke at a work session about an opportunity for Brooklyn Center Liquor to act as a third liquor store for a festival happening in October for our local brewing company - Surly Brewing Company. Because they have grown significantly, they are not able to sell their product as they package it. It has to be sold by a third party vendor," said Daniel Jordet, director of Fiscal and Support Services, at the Tuesday, May 26, Brooklyn Center City Council meeting.

A lease agreement approved by the council allows Brooklyn Center Liquor to lease a space in the Surly Brewing Co. building, 4811 Dusharme Drive, to sell the beer for one day during the festival.

The beer [Darkness] will be purchased from Surly Brewing Co., delivered to the leased space and sold in special 750 centiliter bottles that are smaller than the previously sold growlers. A growler, as defined by Surly, is a "refillable, reusable glass beer jug" for individuals to purchase 64 ounces of beer to bring home.

Surly Brewing Co. was prohibited as of Jan. 1, 2009 by state law to sell growlers once production exceeded more than 3,500 barrels a year. Owner Omar Ansari said last fall that it was anticipated the company would produce at least 5,000 barrels in 2009.

"They [Surly] wishes to continue to control distribution of this product at this festival and not make it a general product," Jordet said. "The way for them to do that is to have Brooklyn Center Liquor open a special space."

The lease agreement, Jordet said in a memo to the council, does not violate state regulations. It is estimated the sale of Darkness beer will generate a minimum of $10,000 in net profit for Brooklyn Center Liquor after costs of lease, staffing and mobilization.

"Thank you for considering this," Jordet said to the council. "It is an exciting opportunity for our local brewery and exciting opportunity for the city as we expect to profit from this venture."

 

East Bethel and Princeton Get Tougher on Catered Alcohol
 
Caterer 
Minneapolis StarTribune
June 9, 2009
 
In order to keep a tighter rein on alcohol sales, the East Bethel City Council last week passed an ordinance requiring caterers to seek a permit to serve alcohol at private events.

"When there's liquor involved, it behooves us to make sure our public safety people know," said East Bethel City Administrator Doug Sell. "It's also important for the city to know that the individuals serving alcohol are properly insured. Hopefully there's not an issue but you would hope that they're properly insured."

Usually, caterers serving liquor are licensed by the state and hold liquor licenses in their home municipalities. Usually, they can sell liquor in another city without being subject to the same local liquor ordinances that apply to established bars and liquor stores.

The ordinance did not stem from any one known incident of drunkenness or underage consumption. Rather, Sell said, the city needs a better handle on who's selling liquor where.

The issue came up at a city clerks' training sponsored by Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division in January, said East Bethel Deputy City Clerk Wendy Warren, who then brought it back for the city to consider.

The East Bethel ordinance, passed at last Wednesday's council meeting, requires liquor sales by licensed caterers to be incidental to food service.

"What they're concerned about is that people will come in and put a bowl of Fritos out there and chip dip and use that as the excuse to sell food as a foot in the door to sell booze," said East Bethel City Attorney Jerry Randall. "Cities want to make sure they are legitimate food service operators, not just a pretext to sell booze."
 
Caterers will be required submit an application and show proof of their valid, state-issued caterer's permit and primary liquor license, their insurance policy and their contract with a local customer. There also will be a nominal fee, which has yet to be set.
 
The ordinance takes effect Friday. Violations could result in a misdemeanor charge.

The city of Princeton already passed a similar ordinance, and Warren said there's buzz on the city clerks' listserv about other cities' efforts to write similar regulations.

 

All the Advertising in the World Can't Compare to One Good Personal Experience

 
Future Dates to Remember!!
July 1st
 MN Sales Tax Increase
 
 
 
Fall of 2009
MMBA Regional Meetings
 
February 22-24, 2010
MMBA Boot Camp
Breezy Point Resort
 
May 15-18, 2010 
 MMBA Annual Conference
Arrowwood Resort
 

 
Ask A Director
 
Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163
 
Bob Leslie
 Pelican Rapids
218-863-6670
 
Dan Bahr
Bemidji
218-751-8868
 
Brian Hachey
Stacy
651-462-2727
 
Nancy Drumsta
Delano
763-972-0578
 
Lara Smetana
Pine City
320-629-2020
 
Joyce Zachmann
Spring Lake Park
763-780-8247
 
Virgene Shellenbarger
Hutchinson
 320-587-2762
 
Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center
763-381-2349
 
Steve Grausam
Edina
612-903-5732
 
Toni Buchite
50 Lakes
218-763-2035
 
Michelle Olson
Sebeka
218-837-9745
E-Mail Me
 
Bridgitte Konrad
North Branch
651-674-8113
 
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925

 
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Farmington Liquor Profits Support City Swimming Pool
Swimming Pool
Since 2005, profits from Farmington's municipal liquor operations have contributed over $450,00 to the City's General Fund and Parks and Recreation facilities and programs.
 
These contributions help the City pay for things that otherwise would require increased taxes.
 
In 2009, $75,000 in profits from Liquor operations will support the City swimming pool.
 
Cristal Thief is Back
cristal
Earlier this week, the MMBA office sent the membership the following note from Molly in Fairmont...
 
 Do Not take any orders via Internet or phone for a large order of Cristal Champagne. There appears to be a fraudulent usage of credit card.
 
The phone call I received was through TTY for a hearing impaired person wanting to order 24 bottles of 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne.
 
Apparently, this person or persons has been trying all over Minnesota, and now is working on Southern Minnesota.
 
It does not appear to be creditable, and every caution should be taken whenever taking a credit card number over the phone or on line. 
 
Since then, Big Lake and Montevideo have reported receiving similar calls and emails.
 
In addition, Lara from Pine City said yesterday...
 
I got the call for the Crystal Champagne this morning. I asked for more information from the person making the request and there was no response. After about a minute or so the person making the request, stopped the relay service by hanging up. 
 
However, I did talk to someone at customer service for the relay provider. I was told they are aware it is happening and need more information; name, CC number, address, etc and then they could work with law enforcement to catch this person. All I got was a name: Allen Smith.
 
Facilities around the state should BEWARE!
Lemons & Limes
Lemon and Limes
An MMBA  member recently asked if it was legal for an off-sale to sell fresh lemons and limes.
 
 The answer is yes. However, a Retail Food Handlers License is required. (Some of you already have this, because you make and sell your own ice.)
 
To get a license, call the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 651-201-6000 or 800-967-2474.
 
The health inspector in your area may or may not want to do an inspection.