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special legislation that allows their <br />municipalities to issue on -sale liquor or wine <br />licenses to them. This practice interferes <br />with the ability of municipalities to control <br />the placement and operating manner of these <br />entities. <br />Response: The Legislature should <br />authorize municipalities to issue on -sale <br />liquor or wine licenses to cultural centers, <br />subject to restrictions imposed by the <br />municipality. <br />SD -55. Wine and Off -Sale Licenses <br />Issue: Minn. Stat. ch. 340A authorizes cities <br />to issue liquor licenses to various <br />establishments within their jurisdictions, but <br />in virtually all cases, the license issued by <br />the city is not valid until the state approves <br />it. This is true for such commonly issued <br />licenses as wine, off -sale intoxicating liquor <br />and temporary on -sale intoxicating liquor <br />licenses. The result is extra time spent for <br />city staff, as well as a time -based <br />commercial impact to the business pursuing <br />the original license. <br />Response: The Legislature should remove <br />the requirement of approval by the <br />commissioner for city -issued liquor <br />licenses and simply require cities to notify <br />the state of newly issued and renewed <br />licenses as is already the case for <br />intoxicating on -sale liquor licenses and all <br />3.2 -liquor licenses. <br />SD -56. Youth Access to Alcohol and <br />Tobacco <br />Issue: The minimum age to purchase <br />alcohol in Minnesota is 21. The minimum <br />age to purchase tobacco in Minnesota is 18. <br />The minimum age to sell alcohol and <br />tobacco products in Minnesota is 18. The <br />penalty for a minor or underage person <br />using false identification is 90 days in jail <br />and/or up to $1,000. Cities have an interest <br />in preventing youth from obtaining these <br />products. To this end, many cities operate <br />compliance check programs in an effort to <br />discern the current level of youth access and <br />to reduce youth access. Statewide, a number <br />of cities have created community <br />partnerships with their court systems, local <br />businesses, and school districts to quickly <br />address problems associated with youth <br />access to alcohol and tobacco. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities opposes any proposal that could <br />result in increased risks of youth access to <br />alcohol and tobacco products and <br />expanded off -sale venues for the sale of <br />such products. The League supports the <br />sale of alcohol and tobacco products only <br />in controlled environments. The League <br />supports statutory changes that assist in <br />reducing youth access to alcohol and <br />tobacco products, including increasing <br />the penalties for youth who use false <br />identification and adults who provide <br />alcohol to minors. The League supports <br />locally -determined alcohol compliance <br />check programs, but any state mandate <br />for alcohol compliance checks should <br />come with state -supported funding <br />initiatives to support these locally - <br />determined compliance efforts. The <br />Legislature should consider a grant <br />program supporting locally -based <br />community partnerships that can quickly <br />and effectively respond to youth access <br />problems. <br />SD -57. Smoking Ban Ordinances <br />Issue: In 2007, the Legislature extended the <br />Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act (MCIAA) <br />to cover all workplaces, including <br />restaurants and bars. The law sets a floor <br />with minimum standards and allows local <br />governments to implement more restrictive <br />ordinances. <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2016 City Policies Page 34 <br />