Minneapolis is on its way to becoming one of the first cities in Minnesota to approve Sunday sales of beer growlers from breweries -- and to let distilleries apply for off-sale liquor licenses.
A City Council committee voted unanimously Tuesday to approve both changes. The move follows a recent change to state law, which requires individual cities to decide if they want to allow people to buy the 64-ounce containers of beer on Sundays or to be able to take home spirits from local distilleries.
Minnesota currently bans liquor stores from opening on Sundays.
Owners of two Minneapolis businesses, Wander North Distillery and Dangerous Man Brewing, told the council's Community Development and Regulatory Services committee that the changes will boost their business and return new revenue to the city's coffers in the form of additional sales tax.
Council Member Kevin Reich said the committee's vote was evidence of the city's interest in encouraging businesses.
"Minneapolis is always the first to support our entrepreneurial businesses ... and for those who say otherwise, here's a good example," he said.
The proposed changes will now go to the full council for a vote.
Above: Growlers line a shelf at Freehouse, a brew pub in Minneapolis' North Loop.
