Still Not For Sale: 2 Items Banned At MN Grocery Stores in 2026

Even though it's now 2026, shoppers might be surprised to learn there are still a couple of common everyday items you won’t find on grocery store shelves across Minnesota. These long-standing bans remain in place statewide, but do you know the reasons why?

Why Minnesota Grocery Stores Still Can’t Sell These Two Items

2026 marked the date when several new laws that passed in the past several years took effect. Some of those laws added new mandates for employers, like paid sick leave, time off, and lunch breaks. But several laws didn't change this year, including the laws that concern two popular items you can buy at grocery stores in just about every other state, but not here in Minnesota.

So just what are those items that Minnesota grocery stores are still banned from selling here in 2026? Wine and beer.

The Outdated Liquor Laws Behind Minnesota’s Ban

Now, grocery stores in the Bold North *can* sell beer, but as we all know, the beer that grocery stores can legally sell in Minnesota is that strange '3.2' beer, or 'near beer' as it's sometimes called. And the Gopher State is currently the *only* state where that product (which contains less alcohol by volume than regular beer) is still sold.

Several years ago, grocery and convenience store owners were hoping that a bill that would allow them to sell regular beer and wine might have been included in the massive two-year budget bill. But, even before that session came to an end, state lawmakers said making wine and beer sales legal at grocery stores in Minnesota wasn't something they'd be taking up.

And, sure enough, they didn't.  Why not? Well, this Minn Post (MP) story notes several reasons lawmakers put the kibosh on moving Minnesota's outdated liquor laws forward, and much of it comes down to the alcohol bill the Legislature passed four years ago.

SEE ALSO: Speaking of Banned, MN Has Flat-Out Banned These Personalized License Plates

That was the 'Free The Growler' law, which, after being previously stymied, FINALLY passed in 2022 and allows craft breweries to sell more of their own beer. But that's the last time any legislative action was taken related to alcohol sales.

Is There Any Chance the Law Could Change in 2026?

Of course, since then, the state legislature has been busy legalizing marijuana sales, THC products, and dealing with continuing revelations of fraud in various government programs and agencies, so modernizing Minnesota's alcohol laws has been relegated to the backseat, apparently.

This year's legislative session is scheduled to get underway at noon on February 17, 2026, in St. Paul. And while there's been no word yet on taking up a provision to legalize sales of wine and beer at grocery and convenience stores, maybe this will finally be the year. But don't count on it, though.

In the meantime, until our legislators decide to actually *do* their jobs, if you want to get your fix of wine or beer here in the Land of 10,000 Ridiculously Outdated Laws Lakes, you'll still have to hit up your local liquor store (which I do love, btw.) At least they're allowed to be open on Sundays, right?