HF 174

as introduced - 79th Legislature (1995 - 1996) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to alcoholic beverages; requiring retail 
  1.3             establishments to post signs warning of the dangers of 
  1.4             alcohol consumption by pregnant women; amending 
  1.5             Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 340A.410, by adding a 
  1.6             subdivision; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1994, 
  1.7             section 144.3871. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 340A.410, is 
  1.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 4b.  [NOTICE POSTING; CONSUMPTION BY PREGNANT 
  1.12  WOMEN.] (a) A premises licensed for the retail sale of alcoholic 
  1.13  beverages and a municipal liquor store must post signs that: 
  1.14     (1) bear the following words:  "WARNING:  DRINKING ALCOHOL 
  1.15  WHILE PREGNANT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS BIRTH DEFECTS, INCLUDING 
  1.16  PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE"; and 
  1.17     (2) bear a graphic symbol designed by the commissioner of 
  1.18  health that communicates the substance of this warning. 
  1.19     (b) The licensee or municipal liquor store must post the 
  1.20  signs required by paragraph (a), as follows: 
  1.21     (1) one sign, at least 12 inches by eight inches, must be 
  1.22  posted in a prominent location at or near the front entrance; 
  1.23  and 
  1.24     (2) one sign, at least four inches by three inches, must be 
  1.25  posted in each restroom on the licensed premises.  Where the 
  1.26  restroom contains a mirror the sign may be a decal, which must 
  2.1   be prominently posted on the mirror.  Letters on signs required 
  2.2   by this subdivision must be at least one-half inch high and be 
  2.3   in clear contrast with the background of the sign. 
  2.4      (c) The commissioner of health shall design and make 
  2.5   posters that comply with this subdivision and shall make the 
  2.6   posters available at no cost to retail licensees and municipal 
  2.7   liquor stores.  A retail licensee or municipal liquor store may 
  2.8   not modify the poster design, but may make posters to modify the 
  2.9   color. 
  2.10     (d) A sign posted by a licensee or municipal liquor store 
  2.11  before August 1, 1995, in conformity with a local ordinance that 
  2.12  requires posting of warning signs on the danger of alcohol 
  2.13  consumption by pregnant women, constitutes compliance with this 
  2.14  subdivision. 
  2.15     Sec. 2.  [REPEALER.] 
  2.16     Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 144.3871, is repealed.