Voters will decide alcohol rule

Published 10:17 am Friday, June 6, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis voters will decide whether to remove restrictions on the amount of alcohol some restaurants are allowed to sell.

Currently restaurants in residential neighborhoods must cap alcohol sales at 30 percent of revenue. The Minneapolis Charter Commission voted to hold a referendum this fall on removing the so-called 70-30 rule.

The owner of Pat’s Tap in south Minneapolis, Kim Bartmann, said she can’t control alcohol prices, microbrew prices or the cost of corn or barley, so the ratios just don’t make sense anymore.

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Charter Commissioner Todd Ferrara said the rule was created by those who were afraid that alcohol would adversely affect their neighborhood. Ferrara said alcohol carries far less stigma than years ago.