HF 5421

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/26/2024 11:20am

A bill for an act
relating to liquor; establishing a social district in the city of Stillwater.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. CITY OF STILLWATER; SPECIAL LICENSE.

Subdivision 1.

Social district; consumption allowed.

The city of Stillwater may issue
a social district license to any holder of an on-sale license whose on-sale premises is
contiguous with the premises of the social district designated in subdivision 2. The license
authorizes consumption, but not sales or service, of alcoholic beverages sold by the on-sale
licensee within the social district.

Subd. 2.

Designation of social district.

(a) Prior to issuing the license in subdivision 1,
the city of Stillwater must designate and describe the premises of the social district. The
district may not include any area under the ownership or control of a person that objects to
the extension of the social district to that area.

(b) The designation must include the specific premises where consumption of alcoholic
beverages is allowed and also include the proposed hours and days in which consumption
of alcoholic beverages is allowed in the social district. The city of Stillwater must adopt the
designation by ordinance prior to issuing the license in subdivision 1.

Subd. 3.

Boundaries clearly defined.

The social district must be clearly defined with
signs posted in a conspicuous location indicating the area included in the social district and
the days and hours during which alcoholic beverages may be consumed in the district. In
addition, signs must include:

(1) the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the area comprising the
social district; and

(2) a clear statement that an alcoholic beverage purchased for consumption in the social
district shall:

(i) only be consumed in the social district; and

(ii) be disposed of before the person in possession of the alcoholic beverage exits the
social district unless the person is reentering the licensed premises where the alcoholic
beverage was purchased.

Subd. 4.

Management and maintenance.

The city of Stillwater must establish
management and maintenance plans for the social district and post these plans, along with
a rendering of the boundaries of the social district and days and hours during which alcoholic
beverages may be consumed in the district, on the website for the city of Stillwater. The
social district must be maintained in a manner that protects the health and safety of the
general public.

Subd. 5.

Requirements for on-sale licensees.

An on-sale licensee holding a social
district license may only sell and serve alcoholic beverages on the premises specified in the
licensee's on-sale license. The licensee must not allow a person to enter or reenter its on-sale
licensed premises with an alcoholic beverage not sold by the on-sale licensee. Sales for
consumption in the social district must meet the following container requirements:

(1) the container clearly identifies the on-sale licensee from which the alcoholic beverage
was purchased;

(2) the container clearly displays a logo or some other mark that is unique to the social
district in which it will be consumed;

(3) the container is not comprised of glass;

(4) the container displays, in no less than 12-point font, the statement, "Drink Responsibly
- Be 21."; and

(5) the container shall not hold more than 16 fluid ounces.

Subd. 6.

Additional social district requirements.

The possession and consumption of
an alcoholic beverage in a social district is subject to all of the following requirements:

(1) only alcoholic beverages purchased from an on-sale licensee holding a social district
license located in or contiguous to the social district may be possessed and consumed in the
district;

(2) alcoholic beverages shall only be in containers meeting the requirements set forth
in subdivision 5;

(3) alcoholic beverages shall only be possessed and consumed during the days and hours
set by the city of Stillwater as specified in subdivision 2; and

(4) a person shall dispose of any alcoholic beverage in the person's possession prior to
exiting the social district unless the person is reentering the on-sale licensed premises where
the alcoholic beverage was purchased.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective upon approval by the Stillwater City
Council and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.