Ind. revisits Sunday alcohol sales

Indiana state legislators will meet today to discuss the possibility of reversing the ban on Sunday alcohol sales.

Current legislation does not permit alcohol sales in convenience, grocery or liquor stores on Sundays.

Indiana is one of three states that bans Sunday sales of wine, beer and hard liquor.

Bruce Jaffee, chairman of the Kelley Department of Business Economics, said the current law reduces competition among stores, raises prices and creates an inconvenience for customers trying to buy alcohol.

“Clearly if you had liquor sales on Sunday, I’m not going to say that the total revenue would increase,” Jaffee said. “But this would generate more competition and modestly drive down prices. Bottom line, this is an overdue legislation.”

Jaffee said passing new legislation allowing alcohol sales on Sundays would be helpful to supermarkets because many people do their grocery shopping on that day of the week.

“Their operation costs wouldn’t change one bit,” he said. “The only support for the current law comes from hazy religious grounds or very small mom-and-pop liquor stores that want to restrict stores for their advantage.”

Sue Bays, bar manager for T.G.I. Friday’s, said she does not think that passing this legislation will reduce her business on Sundays.

“I think people come to Friday’s for the experience or to hang out in a restaurant atmosphere,” Bays said. “We have quite a few people that come into the bar – it’s one of our busiest days. If you’re going to stay at home and drink, then you’re probably going to buy your liquor on Saturday.”

O’Malia’s store manager Steve Hurt said he deals with many customers frustrated with the current legislation.

He said out-of-state buyers who visit the store don’t understand why the ban exists in the first place, and locals simply forget to buy their alcohol earlier in the week.

Hurt said he foresees incremental sales on Sunday, especially when there are big sporting events and people shop en masse for barbeque supplies.

“I think it’s a silly law that you can’t buy beer on Sunday,” Hurt said. “You have to get it prior to Sunday. It boils down to the liquor stores that don’t want to work another day.”