Minnesota state government shutdown affects those selling alcohol

• MillerCoors

MillerCoors

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While some establishments selling alcohol in the state of Minnesota may be scrambling because their alcohol buyer’s cards have expired, most sellers in Douglas County appear to be covered for the time being.

The Echo Press contacted management personnel from four area businesses whose state buyer’s cards were due to expire June 30. The managers said they received the cards and were able to continue purchasing and selling alcohol.

Laurie Trainor, owner and manager of the Green Iguana Bar and Grille near Glenwood, said they received their buyer’s card just two or three days before the shutdown, although they had submitted payment weeks earlier.

MILLERCOORS DEBATE

The possibility of MillerCoors being required by the state to pull their products from Minnesota shelves was a tough pill for some local restaurant/bars and liquor stores to swallow.

MillerCoors reportedly was told by Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety that it had to pull its brands from shelves and halt distribution in the state because of expired brand licenses. It appears MillerCoors will fight the measure.

“If they come to take the beer away,” said Herby Dahl, “you might as well lock your doors if you don’t have any beer to sell.” Dahl owns Herby’s Bar, Grill and Café in Carlos.

Cashwise Liquor in Alexandria was not planning to make any hasty changes.

“At this point, we just consider this to be a matter between [the government and MillerCoors] and we will continue to sell their products until further notice,” said Emily Coborn, manager of communications at Coborn’s Inc., the owner of Cashwise.

But if MillerCoors were required to pull its products, the Geneva Golf Club in Alexandria would feel the impact in its business, according to Jerry Hesse, restaurant manager and chef at the club.

“It would affect a lot of people and it would certainly affect what the people are drinking,” Hesse said. “For golfers, especially, beer is kind of the beverage of choice on the golf course.”

Trainor agreed with the popularity of the MillerCoors brands.

“It definitely would hurt us,” she said of having to pull MillerCoors brands from the Green Iguana. “I know that Coors is our biggest, way biggest seller. I personally think it’s a bunch of crap that the state can mess with our livelihoods.”

Tags: local news, state news, government news, news