Memorial Day Beer Run: Minnesota's Legal Limits

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States, and while it is a day to honour the soldiers who have served the country, it is also a day for barbecues and parties. If you're planning to serve alcohol at your Memorial Day gathering, it's important to know the laws and regulations around buying and selling alcohol in your state. In Minnesota, the laws regarding alcohol sales are relatively straightforward, but there are some restrictions that you should be aware of. So, can you buy beer on Memorial Day in Minnesota?

Minnesota's alcohol sales laws

Minnesota has strict laws regulating the sale of alcohol, with specific hours and days when alcohol sales are prohibited. These laws apply to different types of alcohol, including 3.2% malt liquor and intoxicating liquor, and distinguish between on-sale (consumption on licensed premises) and off-sale (off-premises) licensees.

On Mondays through Saturdays, no sales of 3.2% malt liquor are allowed between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. On Sundays, sales are prohibited between 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

For intoxicating liquor, on-sale licensees cannot sell for consumption on the licensed premises between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Mondays through Saturdays, and after 2:00 a.m. on Sundays. However, restaurants, clubs, bowling centres, or hotels with a seating capacity of at least 30 people and an on-sale intoxicating liquor license may sell intoxicating liquor in conjunction with food between 8:00 a.m. on Sundays and 2:00 a.m. on Mondays. These establishments must obtain a Sunday license, which may be issued by the municipality's governing body for a fee not exceeding $200. The voters of a city or town must authorize the issuance of such licenses.

Off-sale licensees face additional restrictions. They cannot sell intoxicating liquor on Sundays, except between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. On Mondays through Saturdays, no sales are permitted before 8:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. Off-sale licensees also cannot sell on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve after 8:00 p.m., or Christmas Day.

Wholesalers are prohibited from delivering alcohol to licensees or soliciting orders on Sundays, and licensees cannot accept deliveries on Sundays.

Municipalities in Minnesota may further restrict the days or hours of alcohol sales, but any additional restrictions on on-sale hours for intoxicating liquor must also apply to 3.4% malt liquor sales.

As for Memorial Day specifically, while I couldn't find specific information for Minnesota, a source from 2023 mentions that nearly every state allows alcohol sales on Memorial Day, although residents may need to stock up early or plan pickups based on which stores are open.

Beer, wine, and spirits availability

Minnesota has a three-tier system for alcohol sales. Wholesalers or importers make up the middle tier, who supply goods to distributors, who then sell to retailers.

In Minnesota, beer is sold in grocery stores, and wine and spirits are sold in municipal-controlled stores. Grocery stores can only sell beer with less than 3.2% ABV.

The hours for alcohol sales in Minnesota are as follows:

• Monday to Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm
• Sunday: 11 am to 6 pm

On-premise alcohol sales are allowed seven days a week from 8 am to 2 am.

Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve after 8 pm, and Christmas Day are the only days when off-premise alcohol sales are prohibited.

Memorial Day is not a listed exception to the standard alcohol sales hours. Therefore, it can be assumed that alcohol sales on Memorial Day follow the standard hours.

However, it is always a good idea to check with your local liquor store, as individual counties and municipalities may have laws that affect whether stores are open on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day store closures

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States, a day to honour the soldiers who have served the country. While the day is marked with parades and other respectful observances, it is also a day of celebration, with barbecues and parties.

If you're planning to serve alcohol at your Memorial Day gathering, it's important to be aware of the relevant laws and restrictions in your state. Some states have more relaxed liquor laws than others, and each state has its own rules and regulations.

In some states, liquor stores are controlled by the state, and they may be closed on Memorial Day as a result. For example, in 2017, all liquor stores in Massachusetts were closed on Memorial Day, despite the state not controlling these shops. Similarly, in 2024, liquor stores in Alabama, Idaho, Montana, and Utah will be closed, while those in Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming will be open.

Even in states where liquor stores are open on Memorial Day, hours may be shorter, so it's always a good idea to check ahead. In Pennsylvania, for example, Memorial Day 2017 was the first time that state-run liquor stores were open for the holiday, but hours may have been reduced.

If your local liquor store is closed, don't panic! Alcohol can usually be purchased from big-box stores, chain markets, and grocery stores, which mostly remain open on Memorial Day. Additionally, many chain restaurants with liquor licenses remain open, providing an alternative option for restocking your drinks.

In Minnesota specifically, the sale of alcohol is highly regulated. Beer with less than 3.2% ABV can be purchased at grocery stores and gas stations, while wine and distilled spirits are only sold at municipal liquor stores. On-premise alcohol sales are permitted seven days a week from 8 am to 2 am, while off-premise sales are allowed from 8 am to 10 pm Monday to Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. Off-premise sales are prohibited on Thanksgiving, after 8 pm on Christmas Eve, and all day on Christmas Day.

Liquor stores' holiday hours

In Minnesota, the sale of alcohol is highly regulated. Only beer is sold in grocery stores, and wine and spirits are sold in municipal-controlled stores. On-premise alcohol is sold seven days a week from 8 am to 2 am. Off-premise alcohol sales are allowed from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays.

Minnesota has a "per se intoxicated" rule, meaning anyone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over 0.08% could be convicted of a DUI. Beer with less than 3.2% alcohol content can be sold at grocery stores, while wine and spirits are only sold at municipal liquor stores. Bars, restaurants, and clubs can serve alcohol every day from 8 am to 2 am.

Minnesota also has bans on open containers in vehicles; any open bottle of alcohol must be transported in the vehicle's trunk.

On holidays like Memorial Day, liquor stores may be closed, depending on the state and county. In 2017, all liquor stores in Massachusetts were closed on Memorial Day, even though the state doesn't control these shops. In Pennsylvania, liquor stores were open on Memorial Day 2017, but hours may have been shorter.

Privately-owned liquor stores in the District of Columbia, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin may be open on Memorial Day, but it is best to call ahead to confirm.

If your local liquor store is closed, big-box stores, chain markets, grocery stores, and chain restaurants with liquor licenses are usually open on Memorial Day and can sell alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol sales restrictions

Minnesota has a variety of laws and regulations regarding the sale of alcohol, which are important to understand when considering purchasing alcohol on a holiday such as Memorial Day.

Firstly, Minnesota has what is known as a three-tier system for alcohol sales, which is a rigid structure that must be followed for all sales. The bottom tier comprises suppliers and manufacturers, who sell their goods to wholesalers or importers, which make up the middle tier. The second tier then sells to distributors, who sell to the third and final tier, retailers, who sell to customers.

In terms of where alcohol can be purchased in Minnesota, beer with less than 3.2% ABV can be sold in grocery stores and gas stations. Wine and distilled spirits, on the other hand, can only be purchased from municipal liquor stores. On-premise alcohol, which is alcohol sold at restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels, for consumption on the premises, is available seven days a week from 8 am to 2 am.

For off-premise consumption, alcohol can be purchased from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. Off-premise sales are banned on certain days, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and after 8 pm on Christmas Eve.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday, and while it is not listed as one of the days with banned off-premise sales, it is important to note that liquor stores with state control may be closed on this day. In 2017, for example, all liquor stores in Massachusetts were closed on Memorial Day, despite the state not controlling these shops. Additionally, even if state-run liquor stores are open, their hours may be shorter for the holiday. Therefore, it is recommended to call ahead to check the hours of your local liquor store.

In Minnesota, people can purchase alcohol for off-premise use on Sundays from retailers with a special license, and they can do so from 11 am to 6 pm. This may also apply to Memorial Day, so checking with local retailers is advised.

Overall, while there are no explicit restrictions on alcohol sales on Memorial Day in Minnesota, the day falls on a Monday, so regular Monday hours for alcohol sales would apply. It is also important to be aware that individual counties within Minnesota could have laws impacting Memorial Day alcohol sales, so checking with your specific county is recommended.

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