The 70/30 Law Just Didn't Work With The Craft Beer Boom
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minneapolis voters chose to knock down the 70/30 law Tuesday night.
The law restricts restaurant revenue to 70 percent from food and 30 percent from beer and wine. It was a ratio that was getting tough to manage thanks to the city's huge craft beer boom.
"That ratio of 70 percent food, 30 percent beer or wine just completely got flipped with the craft beer explosion and what fine wine has always been," said Joe Widmer, the communications manager for Citizens for a Modern Minneapolis.
Citizens for a Modern Minneapolis and restaurant owners spent the last few months asking Minneapolis residents to "Vote Yes on 2."
On Tuesday, nearly 84 percent of voters did just that.
"To see almost 84 percent vote yes, kind of proved that everything we were thinking was true," Widmer said.
"It's a great feeling to have gone on this long journey and finally come out positive," said David Bernick, co-owner of Riverside Café.
Bernick said the 70/30 law affected his business, because under the law he had to serve food with every drink.
"It kind of became awkward for us," Bernick said. "Because we had to tell people 'Sorry, we can't just serve you a glass of wine.'"
Since the restaurants affected are located in neighborhoods, opponents worried about how family friendly they would be.
"If you take the worst bar you imagine and plop it into your neighborhood, that's what they were imagining," Widmer said.
But according to Bernick customers will hardly notice a change, but he certainly will.
"It's going to lessen my paperwork," Bernick said.
"I think they're going to see a more relaxed restaurant owner," said Widmer.
The 70/30 law will no longer be in effect as of January 2015.