Another no to Sunday liquor sales, but it's looking good for growlers

The Minnesota Senate rejected another push to end the state’s 80-year-old ban on Sunday liquor sales, but advocates for a repeal say a closer-than-ever margin and concessions for Sunday growler sales from taprooms spell hope for the perennial effort.

After an hourlong debate, the Senate voted 35 to 28 Thursday against a full repeal, introduced as an amendment by Sen. Susan Kent, DFL-Woodbury, to a package of liquor bills.

But in an indication that the objections to Sunday liquor sales may be softening, the Senate voted 51 to 11 to allow craft breweries to sell growlers — glass jugs of beer — on Sunday. A “Bloody Mary” provision would allow bars and restaurants to sell liquor on site as early as 8 a.m., rather than the current 10 a.m.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/300209531.html