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� —� <br />tin <br />+C1 <br />��°° � Grocers to push winewith dinner <br />Andrea Stearns <br />Adopting a "consumer convenience" <br />sales pitch, the Minnesota Grocers' <br />Association has launched a concerted <br />effart to convince the state Legislature <br />to authorize grocery stores located <br />within the seven-county metropolitan <br />area to sell wine. Mimlesota law <br />currently allows grocery stores to sell <br />only 3.2 beer. In an attempt to garner <br />grassroots public support, the Grocers' <br />Association has developed a web site <br />(wwwwinewithdinner.net) and has <br />placed information in the checkout <br />lanes of inetro-area grocery stores. <br />Several interested parties, includ- <br />ing the League of Minnesota Cities, <br />have voiced strong reservations with <br />this proposal. Possibly the most <br />notable area of concern is that an <br />i:m� expansion of the venues where <br />January 10, 2001 <br />alcohol is available might increase the <br />ability of underage persons to obtain <br />these products.The �'iroce[S'Assotia- <br />tion has developed a"Grocer Code of <br />Conduct" in an attempt to address the <br />youth access concern. Grocery stores <br />selling wine under this Grocer Code <br />of Conduct would agree to: <br />. Comply with all related state and <br />local laws; <br />. Post age restrictions; <br />. Card everyone under age 30; <br />. Guarantee that all employees who <br />sell wine are at least age 18; <br />. Educate newly hired employees; <br />. Require annual trairung; <br />. Welcome law enforcement con- <br />ducted compliance checks; <br />. Conduct internal compliance <br />checks; and <br />. Adopt internal disciplinary policies <br />with strict consequences. <br />City officials participating in the <br />League's policy development process <br />this past summer and fall identified <br />youth access to both alcohol and <br />tobacco products as an issue of <br />significance. In light of the discussions <br />of several potential proposals. includ- <br />ing the idea of authorizing grocery <br />stores to sell wine, committee mem- <br />bers crafted a new policy that was <br />embraced by the full League member- <br />ship at the Policy Adoption Confer- <br />ence last November.The policy, <br />entitled "SD-27.Youth Access to <br />Alcohol and Tobacco," states: "The <br />League opposes any proposal that <br />could result in increased risks of youth <br />Continued on page 9 <br />�, � � b � -°; � � °' $ °' Cj u <br />� � � � � � u°. � � '3 ;� ��„ a a i� � o � a ' .�e 'N � � <br />� � � � � � � � N y � � � � � .� � �y Q O 'V u � ii � y � y � <br />/''� " ''' � o '^ � ' �G ''� aa a� N � �y �t"'' � O � O � Q 'r G+ � <br />� �% .�' 4�1 V Qi � .�i vf Q% U Y.ti � CI w b V �i Ir ' V aJ p ii ftl I.d <br />u � .� •� o � � � ; " Q °�,' � o on o o �. � � o -d 3 � �� o � v <br />O. � - -o � o <br />�a t,�, . v � � a, -o ,� -o o N � G � <br />O�� �� � ie v� v y�' 3 v: w` ~ C' N a� i.~ a�i `y �:; � O p+ v ey `�' <br />� `� � S U ' 3 c " a a o � H ;; o �. � '� •X �, � .Y°c � �' '� .� .n � �, � ;: o <br />-C � �s 4, , a, � „ a ea v � <br />y" � c � O � � � � � � G. � � � � O O � a� � ai ,�y u � c�i O w � � � ��j � <br />`� � y A. `� C p �. 3 "(�C.� � O, 6A �...� O" O� O w v w'ti N <br />� O � V 'b Q .i�i 0 � �,[ (y � �.i U � "a � ` � N i+ � �n Q y ' 1-� �+ �"y <br />� 'CS � `� i3� '� .I' y ,'� �� S�y" O •..`�i .� � M L 'i�' � "D � � � .� N � V "L; � O^ � � <br />.3 V r�� y a� OA .� u bA � i. � u N y a� �+ „C �j` C �"� cV <br />= t� C � N .L �'y' � �. ' � � � '�. ... �. � � 0 �, � w C) U" � H SL"• • � O T � OU ^ <br />+� o � O1 �J � ed � � v `" � � G � �." 3 � O � � � � � � �'�'' � C�'� � ~ � `� v Wi <br />C � � a, ,�'� n � a a °u u °' � �° � o -� ° � 3 on .°' .H 3 ° N ° .� ° a � o <br />� C �V!( � I �,� <br />� G <br />�//� /o� <br />Page 5 <br />