Vast Majority of Hoosiers Want Change in Alcohol Laws
An overwhelming majority of Indiana consumers would like to see major changes to the state’s archaic liquor laws that restrict cold beer sales and prohibit carry-out sales of alcohol on Sundays according to a statewide poll conducted last month. Seventy percent of consumers favored allowing all retailers to sell cold beer, while 58 percent believed that retailers should be allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday.

 

“This poll confirms the fact that Hoosiers are tired of the inconvenience of having to shop for certain products at certain stores on certain days of the week. They are tired of paying a premium just to have the privilege of buying their beer cold and they don’t understand why adults can buy alcohol at bars and restaurants on Sundays, but they cannot purchase it at a store,” said Grant Monahan, President of the Alliance of Responsible Alcohol Retailers, a coalition of drug, grocery and convenience stores that favor the safe, responsible and sensible sale of alcoholic beverages.

 

Indiana law permits only package liquor stores to sell cold beer, and restricts the sale of alcohol at retail stores on Sunday. Current law, however, does allow alcohol to be sold on Sunday at bars and restaurants. Monahan pointed out that the powerful liquor store lobby has vigorously opposed changing current law to protect their own special interests.

 

“Why is it that virtually every liquor store in Indiana charges a $1 premium to customers who buy their beer cold, as opposed to warm? It is because the state’s liquor stores are monopolies that are anticonsumer. This surcharge alone costs Indiana consumers tens of millions of dollars each year,” Monahan said.

 

“Of greater concern, however, is the fact that the liquor store industry, which has the exclusive right to sell cold beer, also has the worst compliance record when it comes to selling to minors,” Monahan said. “It seems to me that the only way to justify such special treatment is if the class of retailer had a compliance record that was far superior to that of all other retailers. The evidence is clear that is definitely not the case in this situation.”

 

Monahan cited a study released last week in Hamilton County that showed liquor stores failed to check the identification of two young customers 45 percent of the time, compared to all other retailers who did not card 24 percent of the time. Further when it comes to selling to minors at retail establishments, liquor stores accounted for 75 percent of the violations over the last three years according to reports issued by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.

“The 2008 session of the Indiana General Assembly finally put to rest some controversial issues regarding the state’s alcohol policies. They defined a grocery store for the purposes of issuing a permit, they reduced the number of alcohol outlets and they authorized creation of a compliance check program so state authorities can police retailers who attempt to sell to minors,” Monahan said.

“We are hopeful that the next session the General Assembly will rise up against the special interest liquor store lobby and put consumers first by ensuring that the state’s alcohol laws are fair, consistent, responsible and sensible.”

For further information, please contact: Grant Monahan (317) 632-7391

 

 

Additional Polls

Two polls conducted by Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, the state’s most-watched weekly business television program, shows overwhelming support for Sunday carry-out sales and cold beer sales at drug, grocery and convenience stores. From August 22nd through August 28th, visitors to the Inside Indiana Business website were asked, “Should Indiana allow Sunday alcohol sales?” 87% of respondents voted in favor of Sunday sales. From August 29th through September 4th, visitors were asked, “Do you support the sale of cold beer at drug, grocery and convenience stores?” 89% responded in support of cold beer sales.

To view the poll results, please click here