In an emergency conference call on Tuesday night, the Park Rapids City Council considered whether local restaurants should be allowed sell takeout beer and wine.
Legislation signed by Gov. Walz on April 17 temporarily allows restaurants to offer off-sales of beer, hard seltzer, cider and wine with take-out food orders, until the ban on dine-in service is lifted.
The law limits the amounts that can be sold per take-out order; prohibits liquor deliveries; requires verifying that anyone picking up alcohol is at least 21 years old; and upholds all other requirements of off-sales, such as selling drinks unopened and only during liquor store hours.
Mathisrud noted the law allows cities to opt out of the provision and prohibit local restaurants from doing off-sale business, and he provided the council with a model resolution to do this.
However, Mathisrud said city staff recommended taking no action. He said this was consistent with the city using its Revolving Loan Fund to support local businesses.
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He also reported that Scott Olson, manager of the city’s liquor store, “didn’t feel it would have a significant impact on sales.”
By unanimous consent, the council took no action on the matter.
