Liquor Licenses – TheMinotVoice.com

Liquor License Reform Alternatives Headed for Council Consideration

by: MinotVoice | April 15, 2025

Minot’s long-running debate over liquor licenses is heading back to City Hall. After a five-month break, the city’s alcohol ordinance committee has finalized a proposal to streamline license types and offer paths for phasing out the longstanding cap tied to population. The committee sent up our alternatives, but the two that garnered most discussion at

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

On This Day | Stiff Penalties for Loose Liquor Compliance

by: MinotVoice | March 28, 2025

The news last has teeth. Owners of beer parlors or night clubs found guilty of violating the law can be fined from $10 to $100, or sent to county jail for 30 days, or

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On This Day | The Dry Wave is Rolling

by: MinotVoice | December 23, 2024

The prohibition wave seems to be sweeping the country. Seven states, Arkansas, Washington, Idaho, Iowa, Colorado, Oregon, and South Carolina will go dry Jan. 1.

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Grand Forks City Council revives alcohol discussion

by: Josh Wolsky | May 12, 2019

How cities manage and regulate alcohol is a moving target; there’s no write answer — only what’s right for a place at that time based on the challenges they’re experiencing. As an example, Bismarck’s contemplating a license adjustment that would let more businesses into the game based on changing population. In Grand Forks, some Council

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Bismarck mulls offering liquor licenses based on estimated census

by: Josh Wolsky | May 12, 2019

The Bismarck City Commission has requested City staff draft ordinance language that would move the City to releasing population-quota liquor licenses based on the annual census estimate rather than the 10-year census. Here’s the quote from City Commissioner Shawn Oban: “I think if there’s an appetite for increasing competition and allowing more folks to get

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

Fargo experimenting with event-focused liquor license

by: Josh Wolsky | June 26, 2018

The Fargo City Commission approved a pilot program law that would grant a license to serve alcohol to the Downtown Community Partnership. The organization is the primary sponsor of several downtown Fargo events and was seeking the authority to sell alcohol to support their efforts.

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

Grand Forks Allows Minors in Bars for Private Parties

by: Josh Wolsky | June 20, 2017

In what is being described as a ‘common-sense step forward’, the Grand Forks City Council approved a law allowing minors to be in bars for private parties provided they obtain a special permit.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

The Opportunity for Rural Breweries, Distilleries, & Wineries is Big

by: Josh Wolsky | March 28, 2017

Up here on the Northern Plains, we drink a lot of beer. It’s a fact we all acknowledge. And the question they’re starting to ask in Minnesota is what would happen if more of the beer that we consume was brewed locally? What if the corner bar was actually a corner brewery with a taproom?

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Liquor License Violation Dismissed Against Motorcycle Club

by: Josh Wolsky | March 28, 2017

The Ice Cold Ryders Motorcycle Club was facing charges of selling alcohol without a license, but those charges have been dismissed based on a motion filed by the State’s Attorney. Assets seized are also expected to be ordered returned.

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Winnipeg: Warm weather, increased tourism boost food and drink spending

by: Josh Wolsky | November 30, 2016

Food and drink spending is proving to be a boon for the Canadian economy, and in our neighboring province of Manitoba, spending and growth is particularly strong. In the month of September, Manitobans spent $167 million on dining and drinking out, that was up 2.2% from the year previous. Commentary: it’s a story relevant to

Read & Share sourced from: Winnipeg Free Press

Dickinson City Commission revisits alcohol ordinance and license caps

by: Josh Wolsky | November 15, 2016

The Dickinson City Commission is taking a ground up look at the City’s liquor licensing structure and regulations. Specifically, they’re holding a series of public meetings to see if they should restructure penalties for infractions that more properly incentivize license holders and consider adjusting or removing the license cap structure. We’re having the same discussion

Read & Share sourced from: KMOT

Liquor Licenses: Committee Discusses, Agrees to Discuss Further

by: Josh Wolsky | November 10, 2016

An ad hoc committee formed to look at Minot’s liquor licenses with the hopes of finding policy more suited to the current needs of the city discussed the City’s license cap regulations yesterday. The current laws tie the number of available licenses to population; the committee tabled the issue for further discussion.

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Dickinson City commission ready to take up liquor license issues

by: Josh Wolsky | November 8, 2016

The City of Dickinson has scheduled public meetings to bring out issues with the city’s liquor license laws that need to be fixed. City Administrator Shawn Kessel expects the process to require several meetings depending on how many issues need to be addressed.

Read & Share sourced from: Dickinson Press

Dickinson Mayor Wants Unlimited Liquor Licenses

by: Josh Wolsky | October 19, 2016

The Mayor of Dickinson, Scott Decker, is advocating the City do away with quotas on liquor licenses and set a price on acquiring a license. The reason is “to attract more businesses to the area, especially downtown”. It’s a topic relevant to Minot as we’re in the process of considering a similar revision.

Read & Share sourced from: Dickinson Press

City of Minot Comment on the Availability of Liquor Licenses

by: Josh Wolsky | July 1, 2016

Following the closure of Sidekick’s bar and grill due to a licensing issue, I asked the City for official comment on the availability of other license types that might have allowed the business to continue operating. Read the full question and the City’s response provided by the City’s Public Information Officer below. Question: The owners of Sidekicks

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Minot Liquor License Regulations Claim Latest Business Casualty

by: Josh Wolsky | June 28, 2016

The doors are locked, the lights are turned off, and all signs point to Sidekicks bar and grill being closed for good. Though the owner of the establishment has not yet been reached for comment, Rob Teets, the Charitable Gaming Manager for the Minot Hockey Boosters which previously operated the gaming inside of Sidekicks confirmed

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