HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 84-022 RESOLUTION OPPOSING ANY AND ALL MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD PERMIT THE SALE OF WINE IN GROCERY STORES Meeting Sheet
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102485
Box: 23
Folder: RES 1984
Document: RES 84-022 RESOLUTION OPPOSING ANY AND ALL
MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD PERMIT THE SALE OF
WINE IN GROCERY STORES
• RESOLUTION 84-022
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING ANY AND ALL MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATION
WHICH WOULD PERMIT THE SALE OF WINE IN GROCERY STORES
WHEREAS, the City of St. Anthony opposes legislation which would
reduce our ability to control properly the dispensation of alcohol in
our community. Our voters have made the decision that the City will
have complete control of both on-sale and off-sale liquor establish-
ments and our record in terms of sales to minors , dramshop claims and
alcohol related problems in our community is excellent. The City 's
interest in alcohol and drug abuse extends to joint funding with the
local school district of our Chemical Abuse Advisory Committee which
has made excellent progress within the community in its efforts to
educate youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and adults con-
cerning responsible use of alcoholic beverages .
Other concerns we have about the pending legislation include:
1. State-wide public hearings gave this issue a strong look
two years ago and it met thundering defeat;
2 . Proper public policy does not support a 300%-500% increase
in the number of outlets for off-sale wine in our state.
Distribution studies from across the nation clearly demon-
strate that as the number of outlets increase, CONTROL DECREASES;
3. Studies from states that now have wine in grocery stores
clearly show that the teenage employees -of convenience stores
do not strongly resist underage sales . Indeed, those states
have high DWI involvement among young people and are the
states seeking to raise minimum drinking ages;
4 . Only 4 states that allow wine in grocery stores have
resisted efforts to also permit spirits in grocery stores;
5. Tax revenues would not increase since our wine taxes in
Minnesota are among the lowest in the nation. Thus , replacing i
beer or spirit sales with wine sales would not benefit state
tax coffers. . .unless , of course, overall consumption were
to expand dramatically. Such an expansion would be in
marked contrast to present public policy . Furthermore , the
destruction of municipal liquor stores would place a severe i
strain on local tax budgets ;
6. Wine in grocery stores would mainly benefit the large chain
stores who account for about 70% of sales while driving
hundreds of small municipal and private retailers out of
business with a net loss of jobs to Minnesotans; and
7. Consumers would suffer a sharp decline in the number of
Is wines available and most wines will sharply appreciate in
price to cover sales declines , especially higher quality
wines which are now "underwritten" by the popular brands
that would be used as "loss leaders" in the grocery adver-
tisements. j
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council hereby declares its
opposition to any and all Minnesota State legislation which would
permit the sale of wine in grocery stores on behalf of the City of
St.- Anthony .
Adopted this day of (� �- , 1984 .
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ATTEST:
City Clerk.
Reviewed for administration:
City Manager
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