Walz signs bill allowing Minnesota nursing homes to serve alcohol sans license
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday that allows nursing home residents to drink alcohol and pave the way for “happy hour” in senior living facilities.
Previously, Minnesota law prohibited establishments from hosting events involving alcohol without a liquor license. The new “Grandparents’ Happy Hour” law allows nursing homes and assisted living facilities to serve alcohol without alcohol.
The measure also updates the state’s liquor laws, allowing some cities to issue licenses and loosening rules for certain businesses, including nursing homes and University of Minnesota facilities.
Walz announced the bill in a post on X, encouraging seniors to grab a drink.
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An elderly couple enjoys a glass of red wine at home as Minnesota considers a bill that would allow assisted living facilities to serve alcohol without a liquor license. (iStock)
“Living in a nursing home should not mean giving up daily freedoms,” Walz wrote in a post on X. “I just signed a bill allowing seniors living in nursing homes to consume alcohol, so everyone can have happy hour!”
The law requires staff serving alcohol to be at least 18 years old, and establishments are responsible for ensuring residents do not drink excessively.
The bill gained attention during the legislative session, thanks in large part to Anita LeBrun, an 88-year-old assisted living facility resident whose support went viral.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill allowing nursing homes to serve alcohol to residents and paving the way for “happy hour” in senior living facilities. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“I’m sure my friends and I do, as do many of you,” LeBrun said last month before the House Commerce, Finance and Policy Committee.
“Over a shared drink we reminisce about parts of our lives, military service, starting a family, losing a friend and celebrating the golden period of our lives,” he said.
LeBrun also told a state Senate committee that living in an assisted facility “does not mean we should have less freedom than others.”
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A new Minnesota bill aimed at improving seniors’ quality of life and social connections could allow assisted living facilities to serve alcohol to residents without liquor licenses. (iStock)
He later appeared on “Fox & Friends” and described social gatherings with snacks and music, where previously residents had to bring their own alcohol due to restrictions.
Although policies vary, senior living communities in many states allow residents to have drinks or host informal social hours.
Minnesota’s rules stood out because they limit how establishments can organize and serve alcohol in communal settings.
“Living in a nursing home or assisted living facility should not mean giving up daily freedoms,” Walz said in a statement. “This bipartisan bill increases independence and safety under clear regulations while ensuring residents are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve – including the ability to gather for happy hour.”
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A new Minnesota law eases longstanding restrictions by allowing nursing homes to serve alcohol to residents. (iStock)
While the bill was being considered, industry advocates said it would protect small routines that support quality of life.
“Ultimately, the ‘happy hour is free’ bill is about restoring a basic expectation — that entering a senior living community does not mean giving up one’s autonomy,” LeadingAge Minnesota, an industry group representing senior living providers, said in a statement last month. he said.
Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Bardolf contributed to this report.
