Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter

(October 27, 2013 - November 2, 2013)

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As I See It...

I don't understand why we have daylight savings time.

Growing up I was told it was so the farmers didn't have to work in the dark.

What does that mean for the rest of us...We get up and go to work in the dark and get off work and go home in the dark.

For awhile everyone is just crabby until we get used to the new time change.

Now might be a good time to visit with your employees and discuss hospitality pleasantries.

Smiles sell more beer than frowns.

Don't forget to turn your clocks back.

Cheers!

Shelly Dillon

City of Callaway

Is Juice Taxable???

At a recent MMBA Regional Meeting a member asked about taxing fruit juices.

According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue:

Soft drinks

Soft drinks are taxable. The exemption for food products does not apply to soft drinks.

"Soft drinks" means nonalcoholic beverages in liquid form that contain natural or artificial sweeteners.

"Sweeteners" includes corn syrup, dextrose, invert sugar, sucrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, molasses, evaporated cane juice, rice syrup, barley malt, honey, and artificial sweeteners.

Soft drinks do not include beverages that contain milk or milk products; soy, rice, or similar milk substitutes; or greater than 50 percent vegetable or fruit juice by volume.

Product labels should be reviewed to determine if the product falls within the guidelines of a taxable soft drink.

Taxable soft drinks include:

bottled or canned water that contains sweeteners
coffee and tea drinks that contain sweeteners
fruit ades, drinks, or nectars that contain sweeteners and have 50 percent or less fruit juice or no fruit juice percent shown on label
nonalcoholic beer or near beer, such as O'Doul's and Sharps (contains barley malt, a sweetener)
Pedialyte
sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, etc.)
soda pop
sparkling Catawba juice containing sweeteners and 50 percent or less fruit juice

Examples of nontaxable items:

apple cider
beverage powders or concentrates
bottled or canned water that does not contain sweeteners
coffee or tea beans, grounds, leaves, or powders
nutritional drinks that contain milk or milk substitutes
FrappuccinoŽ (contains milk)
fruit or vegetable juices that contain more than 50 percent juice by volume even if they contain sweeteners
milk and drinks that contain milk

Bottled water

Unsweetened bottled water sold in any size container is exempt because it is a food product. This includes carbonated or non-carbonated water or flavored water if no sweetener is added. Delivery charges for non-taxable water are also exempt.

Bottled water is still taxable when sold through a vending machine or when the seller provides eating utensils.

Congratulations Marion!

Congratulations to Marion Dauner, general manager of Vinocopia Wine and Spirits who was inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich earlier this month at Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland.

Honored for "her exceptional personal contribution on the behalf of Scotch whisky," Dauner was one of only three women and only two people from the United States to be honored at the biannual ceremony, which included 53 inductees from 18 countries.

Click Here for More on the Organization

Olivia Liquor Updates Underway!!

The MMBA office received the following note from Olivia city administrator Dan Coughlan.

Here is a first glimpse of the transformation of our liquor store.

The banner above our cooler doors includes our updated logo.

We've included new lighting, flooring, paint colors, and counter top in the mix - plus we are replacing the two rooftop heat / air conditioning units as well.

Expansion into the old on-sale area will probably take place the first half of next year if I had to guess.

Addressing the sad, 1970's style exterior is also a concern in the mix.

When you remove the dam from the river - it is amazing how freely the water flows towards its intended destination.

Wine Flow Chart