Anita LeBrun, an 88-year-old resident at Amira Choice Champlin, testified in support of the bill during the March 10 committee hearing. (Minnesota Senate Media Services/YouTube)

In the hit Paramount+ series Landman, a spontaneous happy hour turns a dull assisted living facility into the liveliest party in town. Now seniors in Minnesota say state liquor laws are standing in the way of that same simple joy — sharing a drink with friends in the place they call home.

A bill moving through the Minnesota Legislature would allow nursing homes and assisted living facilities to let residents consume alcoholic beverages without needing a liquor license, a change spurred by a Champlin senior home’s battle with city and state regulators over happy hour events.

Jessica Carrington, life enrichment director at Amira Choice Champlin, said the facility was suddenly told it needed a liquor license last year.

“The fact is, we do not have a license and never needed one until last year when the City of Champlin decided we needed one,” Carrington told Alpha News. “They turned us into the state, who said we needed a license. Abby Dahl, our executive director, asked what kind of license we needed and no one could tell us.”

Carrington said after nearly a year of asking regulators for clarification, the state ultimately admitted it could not determine what type of license the facility would need.

“Fact is, we don’t sell it. We would serve it responsibly to the residents because this is their home,” she said. “They have lived their entire lives, raised families, some fought in wars, and they can’t have a drink at happy hour?”

Bill would exempt assisted living facilities from liquor licensing

Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, the bill’s chief author in the Senate, said the proposal is about restoring common-sense freedoms for seniors.

“While I appreciate that our liquor laws and regulations are designed to provide oversight, protect health and safety, and establish clear rules for buying, serving and consuming alcohol, we must also recognize when sometimes government goes a little bit too far,” Hoffman said at a March 10 committee hearing.

The bill creates an exemption from state liquor licensing for these facilities as long as alcohol is not sold, and is consumed only by residents or their guests at “resident-focused” events, among other health and safety regulations.

Dahl, the executive director of Amira Choice Champlin, explained during the committee hearing that the facility was celebrating the completion of a renovation project about a year ago and wanted to plan a “reception and champagne toast.”

“So I reached out to my local city for guidance and to notify them of the plans. Imagine my surprise when, as the conversation evolved, I learned that licensed facilities like assisted livings and nursing homes were technically not allowed to coordinate resident happy hours without a liquor permit,” Dahl said.

“We were shocked to learn that we would need a permit, one that would add cost and license and permit fees, liquor insurance, and extra red tape. The kicker is, for my city and for many other cities in Minnesota, not every city has a local permit that fits our situation — no sale, just resident-focused activities. Assisted living facilities are already accountable to over 500 regulations governing the health, safety, and well-being of residents in our care,” she continued. “Requiring a liquor license is simply red tape without value. It is duplicative, not protective.”

Resident testifies about social benefits of happy hour

Anita LeBrun, an 88-year-old resident at Amira Choice Champlin, testified in support of the bill during the March 10 committee hearing.

“My friends and I love happy hour just like many of you do, I am sure,” LeBrun said. “Just because we are older and live in assisted living doesn’t mean that we should have fewer freedoms than anyone else.”

LeBrun’s testimony, captured in a video that garnered thousands of views on social media, highlighted the frustration of seniors who must venture out in slippery conditions to buy alcohol or miss out on social gatherings altogether.

“Over a shared drink, we get to reminisce about parts of our life — military service, raising a family, the loss of a friend — and celebrating the golden phase of our lives too,” LeBrun added.


Jenna Gloeb

Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.





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