Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as confusing and contradictory, and while there are some restrictions on alcohol sales in the state, you can still buy beer on the 4th of July. Indiana's rules and laws do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday, and you can buy beer in bars, restaurants, and grocery stores. However, there are some important things to keep in mind. Firstly, state law permits the sale of alcohol from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday through Saturday, with hours for carryout alcohol sales from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Secondly, Indiana has a unique law that requires businesses selling alcoholic drinks to have food service available at all times for at least 25 people. Lastly, while liquor stores are allowed to sell cold beer, convenience stores are not.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Can you buy beer on the 4th of July in Indiana? | Yes |
Hours for carryout alcohol sales from liquor stores, groceries, pharmacies, and convenience stores | Noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays; 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday to Saturday |
Businesses that sell alcoholic drinks need to have | Food service available at all times for at least 25 persons |
Can convenience stores sell chilled beer? | No |
Can liquor stores sell chilled beer? | Yes |
Can you buy alcohol on Christmas Day? | Yes, as long as it's not a Sunday |
Can you sell alcohol on Election Day? | Yes |
Can you drink alcohol in public places? | Yes, but open containers in vehicles are prohibited unless the passenger is paying for their ride or consuming alcohol in the living area of an RV |
Is happy hour allowed? | No |
What You'll Learn
- Indiana's alcohol laws are enforced by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission
- Alcohol can be sold in Indiana between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. throughout the week
- Alcohol sales at liquor, grocery, and convenience stores are limited from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays
- Indiana is one of 26 states that allow alcohol to be sold in grocery stores
- Indiana allows all-day drink specials but bans happy hour
Indiana's alcohol laws are enforced by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission
The ATC also regulates tobacco retailers, distributors, and manufacturers. The Commission meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 10 am. Indiana's alcohol laws are outlined in Title 7.1 of the state's legal code, and the ATC's website provides information on various permits and forms related to alcohol and tobacco sales and distribution.
Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as confusing and contradictory, as they are a result of the state's legislators tweaking the laws over time to satisfy various interests. For example, Indiana previously banned alcohol sales on Sundays due to economic reasons and pressure from the liquor store industry, but this ban was lifted in 2018.
Indiana has over 50 types of permits for the sale of alcohol, including common permits like a two-way permit for beer and wine, and a three-way permit that includes liquor. The state fee for a two-way permit is $750, while a three-way permit costs $1000. However, the number of permits is limited based on an area's population, which can make them a valuable asset. Permits can be sold privately for high prices, and the ATC also holds auctions for newly available permits, which have sold for over $200,000 in some cases.
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Alcohol can be sold in Indiana between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. throughout the week
Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as confusing and contradictory. They are a legacy of Prohibition, and while the laws have been tweaked over time, they remain strict.
Additionally, Indiana has some unique laws surrounding alcohol sales. Establishments that sell beverages by the "drink" must have food service for a minimum of 25 people available at all times. This means that a packet of chips does not count towards this total. Indiana also prohibits the sale of cold beer in convenience stores, although liquor stores are permitted to do so.
Indiana's alcohol laws also ban the popular practice of "happy hour". While bars and restaurants are allowed to offer drink specials, they are prohibited from selling alcohol at reduced prices during a certain period of the day. Businesses argue that this practice boosts sales during slow times, but opponents believe it encourages binge drinking.
It is also worth noting that Indiana is not an alcoholic beverage control state, meaning that alcohol is widely available and accessible.
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Alcohol sales at liquor, grocery, and convenience stores are limited from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays
Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as confusing and contradictory, largely due to their roots in Prohibition and the subsequent ability for states to set their own rules.
Until 2018, Indiana was one of the many U.S. states to ban all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants. This was repealed when Senate Bill 1 was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on February 28, 2018.
Now, alcohol sales at liquor, grocery, and convenience stores are limited from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. This is a change from the previous law, which banned all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants.
Indiana's Sunday alcohol sales law was influenced by "blue laws", which were largely supported by religious groups who wanted to preserve Sunday as a day of worship. Other anti-alcohol groups also wanted to avoid giving consumers another day to purchase alcohol. Interestingly, liquor stores also supported the ban, as it protected their market share from grocery and convenience stores.
Indiana's alcohol laws have been relaxed in other ways, too. For example, in 2010, the state allowed residents to purchase alcohol on election day. Previously, alcohol sales were banned on election day, likely due to the historic use of taverns as public gathering spaces and polling stations.
Additionally, Indiana has moved to loosen restrictions on alcohol sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the pandemic, Governor Eric Holcomb relaxed policies around ordering alcoholic drinks with takeout orders, allowing restaurants to sell carryout drinks. These changes were made permanent in 2021 to help support bars and restaurants.
Indiana's alcohol laws can be found in Title 7.1 of the state's legal code. The Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission has been enforcing the state's alcohol laws since 1933, following the Repeal of Prohibition.
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Indiana is one of 26 states that allow alcohol to be sold in grocery stores
Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as confusing, contradictory, and archaic. The state's laws have been tweaked over time to satisfy different groups.
Alcohol can be sold in Indiana from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. However, hours for carryout alcohol sales from liquor stores, groceries, pharmacies, and convenience stores are noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Indiana is one of the few states that allow alcohol sales on Sundays.
Indiana is not alone in having complex alcohol laws. Alcohol laws vary widely from state to state, and even from county to county. For example, in Nebraska, you cannot purchase liquor until noon. In Florida, there are no time restrictions on liquor sales, but you can only purchase liquor from liquor stores. Some states allow you to buy beer in grocery stores, while others only permit wine. Some states will allow you to buy liquor on Sundays, but even some of those don’t let you buy it before noon.
Indiana's alcohol laws are subject to change. On March 4, 2018, for the first time, Hoosiers were able to buy beer and other alcoholic products from liquor stores, groceries, pharmacies, and convenience stores from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
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Indiana allows all-day drink specials but bans happy hour
Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as confusing and contradictory. While the state allows all-day drink specials, it bans happy hours. This means that while retailers can offer discounts on alcoholic drinks throughout the day, they cannot reduce prices for a set period.
The ban on happy hours in Indiana dates back to 1985 and was implemented to prevent people from drinking excessively in a short period. However, supporters of lifting the ban argue that it could help businesses during slower periods. Despite legislative efforts to overturn the ban, it has remained in place due to concerns about binge drinking and drunken driving.
Indiana's alcohol laws are a legacy of Prohibition and the subsequent period, which allowed states to set their own rules. Over time, Indiana legislators have made changes to satisfy different interest groups. While Indiana's laws may seem strict in some aspects, the state does allow alcohol sales on Independence Day and other holidays, with no restrictions on July 4th alcohol purchases.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Indiana's rules and laws do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday. However, only liquor stores are permitted to sell cold beer.
Alcohol can be served Sunday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Businesses that sell alcoholic drinks need to have "food service available, at all times, for at least 25 persons."