General Assembly has beer on the brain

Despite a slew of alcohol law reform bills on the Indiana General Assembly’s menu, it doesn’t appear the state will be any closer to legalizing the sale of alcohol from stores on Sundays by the time the Indiana Legislature adjourns in mid-March.

A bill authored by Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, that would allow Sunday carry-out alcohol sales did not gain endorsement from the Senate Public Policy Committee and won’t receive a hearing.

Boots said he believes the opinion of the committee shouldn’t decide the opinion of all 150 legislators.

“I had talked about this last year, and it’s still something in my opinion that needs to be addressed,” he said. “It still needs to be voted by the legislature.”

Hoosiers for Beverage Choices, a group that supports Sunday alcohol sales and the sale of cold beer in locations other than liquor stores, agrees.

The organization, which has an online petition of more than 35,000 Hoosiers in favor of their goals, argues that the state loses tax revenue when citizens cross state lines to buy alcohol on Sunday. It also creates an inconvenience on what is traditionally the second busiest shopping day of the week, according to the organization’s Web site.

Still, opponents of Sunday alcohol sales claim it would make it easier for grocers to run smaller liquor stores out of business.

Rep. Matt Bell, R-Avilla, said he believes the issue isn’t going to go away anytime soon. The decision could ultimately be up to alcohol consumers, he said.
“We’re going to eventually let this issue come to a vote,” Bell said.

Other alcohol legislation

Other alcohol law reform legislation on the Assembly’s agenda includes bills that would mandate all customers to show ID before being allowed to buy alcohol.
The bill comes in the wake of a 2-year survey by the Indiana State Excise Police that found that 35 percent of alcohol stores were not complying with ID regulations. The survey was completed by sending undercover 19- and 20-year-olds into stores to purchase alcohol.

Bell, who authored legislation on the issue, said his bill would mandate everyone to show ID. It wouldn’t hold clerks criminally accountable if they don’t ask for ID from someone who appears over 50 years old.

“I think that a policy has to be put in place to reduce underage consumption,” he said. “We’re taking the guesswork out and saying, ‘If you want to buy alcohol you’re going to have to show an ID.’”

Whether the bill passes or not, the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association announced they will voluntarily comply before it receives a vote.
That will mean mandatory ID checks at Village Pantry, Circle K and Speedway locations in the Bloomington area.

“We think it’s good public policy and we want to keep alcohol out of the hands of those who are underage,” said Scot Imus, Executive Director of the IPCA

Microbrewery sales

A bill that would allow microbreweries the right to sell their product on Sunday passed through the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday and will now go to the Senate floor.

In Indiana, wineries can already sell their products on Sunday. The bill would give microbreweries the same rights.

Bell said the bill might face challenges from those who see it as a step closer to fully allowed Sunday alcohol sales.

Charles Stanley, Upland Brewing Company marketing manager, doesn’t believe the Bloomington microbrewery will see any substantial profit gain from the bill.

“Our main line of business is packaging and production, not carry out,” he said.

Other reforms in the balance are possibly allowing for the sale of alcohol on election days and also allowing establishments to stay open until 3 a.m. Monday morning instead of the current statewide closing time of 12:30 a.m.
Bell said he believes there is strong support for both reforms.