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Editorial
Liquor law changes make sense for post-pandemic
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
The Nebraska Legislature is close to taking some common-sense steps to help some of the most hard-hit businesses survive and thrive in the post-pandemic world while preserving reasonable limits on alcohol distribution and consumption.
Gov. Pete Ricketts threw restaurants a bone with his temporary executive order allowing them to sell drinks with the to-go order model they were forced to adopt when in-person dining was eliminated early in the coronavirus shutdown.
That measure has proven popular and is now part of a package that has been passed to select file, awaiting two more votes to go for the governor’s signature.
As they are now proposed, Nebraska’s liquor laws would be changed to:
-- Create a new promotional farmers market special designated license, issued locally yearly, for farm wineries, craft breweries and micro-distilleries. They currently must apply for an ADL for each event.
-- Allow holders of a Class C liquor license to sell alcohol not in the original package for consumption off the premises. The holder of a Class I license could do the same if it is not partially consumed and is purchased with food.
-- Allow Class Y farm wineries to sell products such as sangria or wine slushies for consumption off-premises if in a sealed, labeled container with a tamper-evident lead and out-of-reach of the driver or passengers.
-- Create a new category of alcoholic beverage and set the excise tax at 95 cents a gallon. Current law would tax ready-to-drink cocktails at $3.75 a gallon for spirits in an original container up to 12.5 percent alcohol by volume.
An Omaha lawmaker argued that lowering the tax on ready-to-drink cocktails would lead to alcohol abuse and drunk driving, and would cost the state an estimated $5 million annually in lost tax revenue, but his amendment was voted down.
It’s true that binge drinking and drunk driving are big problems in Nebraska, but it’s hard to believe many of those involved are buying their drinks with a takeout pizza or from a stand in a farmer’s market. And, fully operational restaurants and brewpubs will more than make up for the taxes lost in the proposed changes.
Local microbreweries and wineries have been a bright spot in Nebraska’s economy, and restaurants have suffered far more than their share under the pandemic.
Reducing red tape to help them stay in business and thrive is the least we can do.