Minnesota's newest toast to individual rights is coming from an 82-year-old grandmother armed with a wine glass. After learning that her assisted living facility near Minneapolis couldn't legally serve alcohol without a liquor license—even for a simple celebratory toast—Anita LeBrun took her frustration to the state Capitol. She testified twice before lawmakers, reports the New York Post, arguing that moving into assisted living shouldn't mean giving up long-enjoyed rituals. "Just because we are older and live in assisted living doesn't mean that we should have fewer freedoms than anyone else," she told a Senate committee.
Lawmakers agreed. The newly signed "Grandparents' Happy Hour Bill" lets Minnesota nursing homes and assisted living facilities serve alcoholic drinks to residents and their guests at special events without obtaining a liquor license. The law "affirms that living in assisted living doesn't mean giving up everyday pleasures or independence," LeBrun said last week as Gov. Tim Walz signed the bill with a clinking of glasses at her Champlin residence, per the Pioneer Press. "Personally, I'm excited now that I can enjoy a glass of Pinot Grigio with friends." Walz said the law trims "unnecessary red tape" so facilities can focus less on permits and more on occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and, yes, happy hour. LeBrun says she's proud—and that the old rules were simply "ridiculous."
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