A Minnesota grandmother is celebrating after bringing about a change in the law allowing nursing homes and assisted living facilities to serve residents alcohol.
Anite LeBrun, a now-widowed 82-year-old grandmother of five, said she couldn’t believe it when she discovered last year that her assisted living facility in Champlin, a Minneapolis suburb, was prohibited from serving residents booze because it didn’t have a license.
In fact, the facility she moved into two years ago, Amira Choice, had even been contacted by local officials in April 2025 for serving Campagne at an event celebrating renovations.
LeBrun took her battle to change the law to the state legislature, where she twice testified before finally winning the fight for the right to party.
“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, as reported by BBC News.
“My friends and I love happy hour, just like many of you do,” she told them.
Last week, she shared a toast with Minn. Gov. Tim Walz at her facility to mark the beginning of the “Grandparents’ Happy Hour Bill,” which allows nursing homes and other assisted living sites in the Gopher State to serve booze to residents and their guests for special events without a license.
“I’m very proud, because everybody’s so excited about it,” LeBrun said at the ceremonial toast, adding that she and her fellow residents found the restrictions “ridiculous.”
Speaking at the ceremony last Tuesday, Gov. Walz said he backed the changes.
“Growing older shouldn’t mean giving up the traditions and freedoms you’ve enjoyed your whole life,” he said.
“This law cuts unnecessary red tape so senior living communities can spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time creating opportunities for residents to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, Happy Hours, and everyday moments together,” Walz added.
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