Lawmaker On Repealing Sunday Sales Ban: 'This Could Be The Year'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – For 82 years, a Minnesota law has prevented the sale of alcohol in liquor stores on Sunday.

And it seems for almost that long, legislators have annually proposed repealing that law.

This year is no exception.

Sen. Roger Reinert (DFL), of Duluth, and Rep. Jenifer Loon (R), of Eden Prairie, have 20 co-authors for their bill that would end the Sunday ban.

Loon spoke about the bill on WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy.

"We are gaining momentum," she said. "The Speaker of the House, Kurt Daudt, has announced that he's personally in favor of it, and that's a huge departure."

She said it's critical to have Daudt onboard, so the bill might not encounter many roadblocks on its way through the Legislature.

Critics of repealing the sales ban have traditionally been associations representing small liquor stores. Loon said that she's spoken with small store owners, and what they really want is the freedom of operation to best serve their customers.

"So, some of them have indicated that maybe they'll close on a slower day [if the law is repealed], because they know that Sunday will be a big day in their retail week," she said.

Loon added that she thinks it's only a matter of time until the sales ban is repealed.

"It's going to happen," she said. "And I strongly believe this could be the year."