The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 340A.22, subdivision 2, to modify the regulations surrounding cocktail room licenses for microdistilleries and distilled spirits manufacturers. It allows municipalities to issue these licenses, which permit the on-sale of distilled liquor produced by the distiller for consumption on the premises of or adjacent to the distillery. The bill also clarifies that cocktail rooms may operate on Sundays if authorized by the municipality and that holders of these licenses can also operate a restaurant at the distillery. Additionally, it establishes that a distiller can only hold one cocktail room license and mandates that municipalities impose a licensing fee, while also requiring them to inform the commissioner of various licensing actions.

A significant change introduced in the bill is the stipulation that no single entity may hold both a cocktail room and a taproom license, and that these two types of licenses cannot be colocated unless the entity held both licenses prior to August 20, 2014. This provision aims to clarify the licensing landscape for distillers and ensure compliance with existing regulations. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the licensing process for microdistilleries while maintaining certain restrictions to prevent conflicts between different types of liquor licenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 340A.22