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<br />Page 2 of2 <br /> <br />goes naturally with food, she said the longtime ban could be a hard change. <br /> <br />liThe city does need that revenue stream," she said. <br /> <br />Dave Duwenhoegger, liquor operations manager for Anoka's stores, said even more important than the revenue <br />is safety. He said 15- or 16-year-olds milling around the grocery store wine aisle aren't going to draw attention like <br />they would in a liquor store. <br /> <br />liThe wine in grocery stores [effort] is pushing convenience, and I think that safety is more important than <br />convenience,1I he said. <br /> <br />City officials say they work closely with their public safety departments to train employees - all of whom have to <br />be 21 or older - and to conduct undercover checks. <br /> <br />Paul Kaspszak1 executive director of the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association, said in liquor stores, lIour <br />decision on whether to serve somebody starts when they walk through the door.1I Recently a man staggering out <br />of a taxi in Rogers didn't get served. A man asking for separate receipts in a college town was denied a sale. <br /> <br />lilt's a controlled substance that, when used improperly, leads to problems,ll Kaspszak said. IIMaybe it should be a <br />little more difficult to buy.1t <br /> <br />Thomas Johnson, Columbia Heights police chief, said grocery stores could be more likely to have problems such <br />as shoplifting. <br /> <br />"There's a potential of additional resources being needed as far as violations that could take place," he said. <br /> <br />Grocery industry: 'We're ready' <br /> <br />Grocers say they are merely responding to customers' desire for convenience and wouldn't do anything to <br />jeopardize public safety. <br /> <br />Jamie PfuhlJ executive director of the Minnesota Grocers Association, said grocers in the state have agreed to <br />follow a code of conduct that includes posting age restrictions, guaranteeing that cashiers under age 18 can't sell <br />alcohol, training employees and working with police. <br /> <br />"We believe and know we can manage wine responsibly,lI she said. <br /> <br />Sarah Moran · 612-673-7512 · smoran@startribune.com <br /> <br />@2006 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />12/14/2006 <br />