ST. PAUL — It might finally be happy hour in nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the state after lawmakers discussed the issue in the fifth week of the legislative session.
Bills moving through committees in the Minnesota House and Senate would allow nursing homes, boarding care homes and assisted living facilities to serve alcohol during resident activities and events without possessing a liquor license.
“I appreciate the purpose of liquor regulations, but sometimes we recognize they go too far,” said House bill author Rep. Danny Nadeau, R–Rogers.
Current state law prohibits these facilities from serving alcohol without a license or permit, but the process of getting the licenses can be time-consuming, expensive and redundant.
Abby Dahl, the executive director of the senior living facility Amira Choice Champlin, said that these facilities already follow hundreds of regulations governing the health, safety and wellbeing of the residents under their care.
“Requiring a liquor license is simply red tape without value,” said Dahl. “It is duplicative, not protective.”
Last year, the facility where Dahl works wanted to host a reception with a champagne toast to celebrate the completion of a major renovation project. When they reached out to the city about their plans, the organizers were disappointed to discover they couldn’t coordinate a resident happy hour without a permit.
For Dahl, this was a problem. She pointed out that all residents in these facilities are legal adults and should be able to enjoy a drink in their homes.
Anita LeBrun, a resident of Amira Choice Champlin, testified in favor of the House bill, echoing Dahl’s sentiment that residents should be able to indulge in happy hours where they live.
“Just because we are older and live in assisted living doesn’t mean that we should have fewer freedoms than anyone else,” LeBrun said.
The proposed legislation would provide what Nadeau called a “narrow exception” to liquor law as long as assisted living facilities follow requirements, including ensuring that serving staff is age 18 or older, that the facilities notify the state of their intention to serve alcohol and that none of the alcohol is offered for sale.
For many like LeBrun, this change has been a long time coming.
“Over a shared drink, we get to reminisce about parts of our life, military service, raising a family, the loss of a friend and celebrating the golden phase of our lives, too,” LeBrun said.
LeBrun pointed out that the bill would have the added benefit of letting residents enjoy drinks safely without trekking outside and “slipping on ice” to shop for wine in the colder months.
The language of the House bill was folded into a larger liquor policy bill that is headed to the House floor for a vote. The Senate version is also headed for a floor vote.
“This bill is simply putting into law what many people assume is already allowed,” LeBrun said. “Happy hour at the place where we call home.”
Report for Minnesota is a project of the University of Minnesota's School of Journalism and Mass Communication to support local news across the state.
