Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake)
Chances for liquor stores to be open Sundays in Minnesota are inching up after a bill cleared its final committee in the Minnesota Senate on Wednesday and now awaits a floor vote. Prior Lake Republican Eric Pratt says he agrees total sales will not increase for small liquor stores and their overhead could go up, but Pratt says despite that, “I also recognize that our society’s changed. Some may say it’s not necessarily for the better, but it’s changed and I think we have to recognize that.”
It’s not yet clear whether the bill has enough votes to pass the Minnesota Senate — but Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said earlier that although he doesn’t support Sunday liquor sales, he won’t block a vote on the bill and “it feels like this is the year” it could become law. Governor Mark Dayton has said Sunday liquor sales is not one of his priorities, but he’ll sign the bill if it reaches his desk.