Ind. Sunday Alcohol Sales Bill May Be Done For

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - If Indiana is ever going to allow carry-out alcohol sales on Sundays, it will have to wait until at least next year.

State Sen. Phil Boots (R-Crawfordsville) and Rep. Cindy Noe (R-Indianapolis) each filed bills prior to the start to this year’s legislative session seeking to permit Sunday sales.

Boots told reporters Monday that he has been told by legislative leaders that alcohol-related legislation will not be considered this year.  

The House Public Policy Committee’s chairman says he won’t schedule any hearings for the bill. A battle over right to work has caused a logjam of legislation to stack up on committees.

Grocery and convenience store owners with the Indiana Alliance of Responsible Alcohol Retailers claim Indiana is losing $150 million in sales each year because Hoosiers who live near neighboring states often cross state lines to purchase alcohol on Sundays.

Boots said he will continue to fight for Sunday alcohol sales. He said he may consider filing legislation which would allow cities and counties to hold their own referendums on allowing Sunday sales.

LINKS:

Lawmakers Want To Change Ind. Booze Laws