CENTRAL CATHOLIC Middle School in New Ulm hit the jackpot in the 29th annual school safety poster contest sponsored by American Automobile Association (AAA). Six CCS students were named state winners and received certificates plus $5 checks from AAA district manager David Franta of Redwood Falls. Left to right in front are Kathy Woratschka, Teri Brand and Lisa Griebel (combined poster), Jane Cordes, Julie Roeser and Marie Brand (combined poster). The instructors, Anita Eichten and Marilyn Gruenzer, also received certificates for their safety art instruction. New Ulm Daily Journal, May 25, 1973

New Ulm, the beer capital of southwest Minnesota, may be “dry” for 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds come June 1 unless the state attorney general rules otherwise.

Although Gov. Wendell Anderson Thursday signed a law giving 18-year-olds full adult rights on June 1, several cities around the state (including New Ulm) have city ordinances prohibiting the purchase, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by anyone under 21.

And a state law allows cities to have local ordinances which further restrict a state law, according to state liquor agent Walter Perlt.

Unless the attorney general rules that city ordinances must be in conformance with the new state law, cities with the “under 21” prohibition would be dry islands for 18 to 20-year-olds in the midst of “wet” rural areas.

The problem arose because the new state law changed the age of majority from 21 to 18. Some cities have drinking ordinances using the word “minor”; these cities will automatically be in conformance with state law, since it is the age of minors which has changed.

But ordinances in other cities which specifically prohibit liquor sale, use or possession by anyone “under 21” are unchanged by the change in state law.

“The question is being studied by the attorney general’s office right now,” Walter Perlt, chief of the enforcement division of the state liquor control commission, told the Journal Thursday. He said the matter should be resolved by sometime today.

Other cities in the same boat as New Ulm include St. Paul, Crookston and “many others’, Perlt said, and all have been calling his office looking for advice.

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THE RELEVANT part of the New Ulm City ordinances read as follows:

“It shall be unlawful to sell or furnish any intoxicating liquor for any purpose whatsoever to any person under the age of 21 years.”

On the other hand the liquor ordinance continues with a reference to “minors”:

“It shall also be unlawful for any minor to loiter and remain in the licensed premises and also unlawful for the licensee, his servants or agents to permit any minor to loiter or remain in the licensed premises unless said minor is accompanied by an adult blood relative or by his duly appointed guardian.”

If one followed Perlt’s explanation, under the present setup in New Ulm 18 to 20-year-olds could “loiter” in liquor establishments but they couldn’t purchase intoxicating liquor.

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CITY ATTORNEY Terence Dempsey said Thursday that unless the attorney general issues a ruling to the contrary, New Ulm ordinances would remain in effect unless changed by the City Council. The next regular Council meeting is June 5.

Changing the ordinances would ordinarily take about two months;. any speedier action would necessitate passage of emergency ordinances.

New Ulm Daily Journal, May 25, 1973