With a Sunday holidays looming in the future, such as July 4th and others, a new campaign kicks off to push for Sunday sales of packaged beer, wine and liquor. Indiana is one of the 13 states that still prohibit Sunday liquor sales.
Fact
Indiana is one of only 3 states that prohibits retailers from selling alcohol on Sundays, but allows restaurants, taverns and numerous sports and community events to sell alcohol by the drink on Sundays. Lawmakers in Indiana now permit more consumption on Sundays by extending the hours for alcohol by the drink. Bars and restaurants can now sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday morning.
Indiana is the only state that regulates the temperature of how beer can be sold between competing retailers. The bottom line for you the consumer is, you get to pay a premium of more than $1 per case of beer (on average) if you want it cold. This is thanks to the liquor stores’ monopoly on selling cold beer. (ChangeitIndiana.org).
Myth
“Cold beer sold at drug, grocery and convenience stores is more likely to end up in the hands of minors.”
The facts just don’t support this myth. A comprehensive two-year study by Indiana’s Alcohol & Tobacco Commission found that liquor stores are nearly twice as likely to sell alcohol to minors as drug, grocery and convenience stores.
“Allowing Sunday carryout sales would lead to more drunk driving accidents.”
It’s really difficult to make that argument with a straight face when Indiana already allows bars, restaurants and sporting events to sell on Sunday. People are driving home from these places after drinking. (ChangeitIndiana.org).
The Alliance of Responsible Alcohol Retailers will launch "Change It Indiana," a statewide move to change the current law, which bans such sales.
The group includes Kroger, Marsh, Meijer, CVS and Circle K stores, which are involved in the retailing of alcoholic beverages in Indiana. It argues that 47 states allow Sunday carryout sales and that Indiana loses about $9 million a year in tax revenue to alcohol sales in neighboring states.
Family owned liquor stores say it won’t pay them to stay open. Once the utilities and wages are paid, the stores state they will go into the red. They also say this is the one day that they have with their family, as opposed to the larger stores.
There have been 9,425 messages that have been sent to this website with 53,085 supporters that have signed a petition that support this change.
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