Although Minnesota Join Together (MJT)’s funding ended last year, the coalition continues to work on a purely volunteer basis to advance policies that keep alcoh
ol out of the hands of young people. MJT, whose members include youth, adults, and organizations across the
state, has focused on reducing the availability and access of alcohol for young people for more than 10 years.
Minnesota was one of many states funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Reducing Underage Drinking Through Coalitions project. When that project ended in 2004, the coalition underwent some significant changes. “It’s been quite a transition,” summarized MJT co-chair Howard Epstein. “Still, we’ve been able to keep the coalition together and make progress on two of our priority legislative issues—increasing the
excise tax on alcohol and preventing wine sales in grocery stores.”
Increasing Minnesota’s
excise tax on alcohol has been difficult in the state’s political climate; the governor has publicly opposed creating new taxes or raising existing ones. Nevertheless, MJT members found that grassroots support for increased taxes was strong. “This issue—increasing taxes—became a bridge between MJT and county and city governments, who have seen their funding go down in the last few years,” noted Epstein.
Members of the
MJT coalition continued their advocacy efforts, backed by local supporters. “The partnership is a good fit for everyone: Minnesota Join Together carries the big message while local governments, community groups, and law enforcement rally behind it and provide vital
grassroots support,” said Epstein. This joint effort resulted in what Epstein describes as a small win: the Governor supported a continuation of an existing sales tax on alcohol. “Although it’s not exactly what we wanted, it’s something to build on,” noted Epstein.
Partnership was a key component in addressing another ongoing legislative issue: allowing wine sales in grocery stores. Minnesota law allows wine and distilled spirits sales only in state licensed liquor stores. MJT members felt strongly that allowing wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores would result in greater
access for young people—and consequently, an increase in underage drinking. “This became a case of strange bedfellows,” laughed Epstein, “since we ended up working alongside the state liquor association to defeat the proposition.”
How did that happen? Minnesota Join Together found that the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) also opposed an effort by the state Grocers’ Association to expand wine sales into grocery stores. MJT was approached by representatives of the MLBA to cooperate on this issue, based on years of
effective policy work and MJT’s reputation with state policymakers. Although their reasons were very different—public safety vs. diminished profits—MJT decided that the risk to young people’s health and safety was significant enough to partner with an industry group on this issue. The proposition was defeated again in the 2005 legislative session, as it had been for the last four years.
Despite losing funding and the associated infrastructure, Minnesota Join Together members are already planning for advocacy efforts in the future with no intention of slowing down anytime soon. “It’s a lot of work to keep a group like this together,” said Epstein. But rather than dissipate the group’s efforts, the transition has served to concentrate it. “We’re all interested in passing policy that promotes a healthier and safer Minnesota,” said Epstein. “It’s what keeps us coming back, year after year.”
