Ind. panel rejects major alcohol sale proposals

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- An Indiana interim legislative committee recommended to the full General Assembly on Tuesday that carry out sales of alcohol on Sundays remain banned and that liquor stores stay the only places to take-out cold beer.

The Interim Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Issues voted 7-4 against Sunday carry out sales, and voted unanimously against recommending carry out cold beer sales be allowed in places such as drug stores, grocery stores and convenience stores.

A coalition of retail associations called Hoosiers for Beverage Choices wants both laws changed, and vowed to push legislation on the issues when the General Assembly convenes in January.

The coalition contends Sunday carry out alcohol sales should be allowed, in part because Sunday is the second busiest shopping day of the week and people should be able to buy numerous items in one place. People can drink alcohol on Sundays in restaurants, bars and some sporting events.

Coalition proponents also argue Indiana is losing sales tax revenue from people driving to neighboring states and buying alcohol on Sundays. And they said liquor stores should not have a monopoly on cold beer sales.

"This is a matter of convenience for the customer, giving them more choices," said Matt Norris, director of Hoosiers for Beverage Choices.

But allowing Sunday sales is opposed by many package liquor store owners, in part because they believe any business gained would be canceled out by additional costs for being open another day. They say big box grocery stores and drug stores could easily absorb any extra costs, and Sunday sales would change alcohol buying habits in those retailers' favor. They also argued Tuesday against cold beer sales in venues other than liquor stores.

"The dramatic expansion of cold beer sales being proposed would destroy the package store industry in every corner of this state," said John Livengood, president of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, which represents many of the state's liquor stores.

"Both sides in this debate support the compliance check law," he said. "The difference is that only package stores also support mandatory training, clerks licensing, adult clerks, and age-restricted marketing. Package stores are the state's partner in an ongoing effort to control and regulate how alcohol is sold and we welcome that role."

Some other opponents of the two proposals said they would make alcohol more accessible to minors and result in more drunk driving deaths.

Some lawmakers on the 11-member study committee said the proponents had not provided enough evidence to recommend changing the law.

"They haven't made their case," said Democratic Rep. Trent Van Haaften of Mount Vernon, chairman of the committee.

Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, agreed with opponents who said Sunday sales would lead to more drunken driving and traffic deaths.

The panel voted without comment against allowing cold beer to be sold in places other than liquor stores.

The committee did vote unanimously to recommend that the prohibition on alcohol sales during Election Day hours be lifted. Some on the panel said it was an antiquated law.

Norris, president of the coalition seeking the other two changes, said he was disappointed in the committee's action but noted Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, has said he would file a bill allowing both Sunday take-out sales and cold beer sales in businesses other than liquor stores.

"We will push forward for that," Norris said.

Livengood said he was sure proponents of the changes would not give up, but said the committee's recommendations should carry some weight.

"Leadership of both houses put a lot of emphasis on the importance of this committee, so I hope the results of this committee will be apparent," he said.