Push for Sunday liquor sales stalls

A group has decided to delay its effort at persuading legislators to change the state's long-standing ban on Sunday alcohol sales and sales in general at drug, grocery and convenience stores.

Hoosiers for Beverage Choices had formed in August to push for changes to the state alcohol laws, including permission for the sale of cold beer at those same locations.

But Grant Monahan, president of the Indiana Retail Council, said no bill will be introduced this session because legislative leaders have called for a moratorium on alcohol-related legislation for the General Assembly session that starts today.

Joe Hildreth, manager of Hildreth's Liquor Mart on West Tipton Street in Seymour, said Monday that's good news for parents
"Anybody who's a parent should be glad it's not being visited" this session, Hildreth said.

"I don't like looking at it from a business standpoint," he added. "I think it should be looked at more in terms of alcohol access. Making beer more accessible would be more of a step in the wrong direction."

The topic will likely be assigned to a two-year interim study committee on alcoholic beverage issues.

"We're kind of nowhere for this session," said Monahan, who is a spokesman for Hoosiers for Beverage Choices.

Monahan said the group had received positive reaction from legislators and the public - including thousands of people who signed an online petition for the legislative changes - and he hopes for success on the issue in 2010.

Indiana is one of 15 states to prohibit carryout sales of alcoholic beverages on Sunday. Thirteen others have repealed such restrictions since 2002. But restaurants, taverns and numerous sports and community events are allowed to sell alcohol by the drink on Sundays.

Indiana, meanwhile, is the only state that limits the sale of cold beer to package liquor stores.

Hoosiers for Beverage Choices was formed by 23 retailers and three trade associations - Indiana Retail Council, The Indiana Petroleum Council and The Indiana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association.

The move to allow Sunday sales is opposed by some package liquor store owners, who believe any business gained would be canceled by additional costs for being open another day.

In an interview in October, Nancy Brock of Seymour said she opposed the idea because the sale of cold beer in stores where children can enter opens the door for so many more problems.

"I'm totally opposed to underage drinking," Brock said. "I think alcohol should be a controlled substance."

She and her husband, Charlie Brock, own and operate Northside Liquors on Ewing Street in Seymour.

Karin Antle, executive director of Jackson County Drug-Free Council, said that organization would strongly oppose the sale of cold beer in convenience stores because of the easier access for juveniles. She added she doesn't like the idea of Sunday alcohol sales either.

Norma Yazell, who owns Vick's Liquor on East Tipton Street in Seymour, said she opposed both proposals for the same reason as Brock. She added it would also mean she'd have to be open seven days a week, costing her more to operate and possibly losing business to convenience stores.

"It would hurt my sales," Yazell said.

Hildreth added his business would simply be spread over seven days rather than six. He also said the state could expect to see an increase in Sunday drunken driving charges, based on experience in other states that have approved Sunday alcohol sales.