House Passes Omnibus Liquor Bill, Keeping 'Four Firkins' Legislation Alive

The Minnesota House on Tuesday afternoon passed its omnibus liquor bill, 127-5, which for now keeps the "Four Firkins bill" alive.

That legislation would allow Minnesota liquor stores to sell store-branded merchandise, such as T-shirts. The House version of the bill was authored by Hopkins Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A) earlier this year after he spoke with Jason Alvey, owner of St. Louis Park craft beer store .

Alvey, who has said he simply wants to be able to better market his store by selling Four Firkins merchandise to loyal customers, was pleased by Tuesday's news.

"It's good that it passed," he said.

But the proposal is not yet law. A Senate version of the bill, authored by Hopkins Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44),  into the Senate's omnibus package. Because of the differences in the two omnibus bills, a conference committee will be convened. It is unclear specifically when this will happen, but the legislature is set to adjourn May 23.