MN municipal liquor stores stay busy

Minnesota municipal liquor stores posted a 26th consecutive record year of sales in 2021.  According to a new report from the auditor’s office total sales topped $423 million dollars last year.

177 Minnesota cities operated 212 municipal liquor stores, with 84 cities operating both on‐sale and off‐sale liquor establishments.  Minnesota municipalities were originally authorized to own and operate liquor establishments as a means of controlling the sale of alcohol.  Municipal liquor operations have also provided another source of revenue to supplement for local governments.

Lakeville was tops in total sales at $19.6 million dollars.  In northern Minnesota Detroit Lakes was the seventh highest in the state with over $8.6 million in sales….Bemidji was 9th at around $8.6 million….and Alexandria was 10th at $7.8 million.