Thanksgiving Beer Run: Indiana's Alcohol Sales Rules Explained

Alcohol laws in the United States vary from state to state, and Indiana is no exception. Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as archaic and obsolete, at times contradictory, and often confusing. So, can you buy beer on Thanksgiving in Indiana?

Beer and wine are available at supermarkets and convenience stores

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as confusing and contradictory. Alcohol sales were banned on Sundays until March, and before 2015, no alcohol was sold on Christmas Day. However, you can buy alcohol in Indiana on Thanksgiving.

In Indiana, on Thanksgiving, you can purchase alcohol from supermarkets and convenience stores, as well as some privately-owned liquor stores. Some larger retailers that sell alcohol in Indiana on Thanksgiving include Walmart, Target, and Kroger.

It's important to note that Indiana law requires retailers to check the identification of any person under the age of 40 when selling alcohol.

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as archaic and obsolete

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as "archaic and obsolete", "contradictory", and "confusing". Indeed, Indiana has some of the strictest liquor laws in the US, and until recently, the state was one of a dozen that banned all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants.

The laws are a legacy of Prohibition, and while legislators have been tweaking them to satisfy various interest groups, Indiana's alcohol laws continue to be a source of confusion. For example, until 2018, alcohol sales were banned on Sundays, and before 2015, no alcohol was sold on Christmas Day. Now, Hoosiers can buy alcohol on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Sundays. However, the hours for carryout alcohol sales from liquor stores, groceries, pharmacies, and convenience stores are restricted to noon to 8 pm on Sundays.

Indiana also has strict laws regarding the sale of cold beer. State law currently limits the sale of cold beer for carryout to package liquor stores, with an exception for breweries, which can sell beer they brew on-site for cold carryout. Indiana will soon be the last state to regulate the sale of alcohol by temperature, as Oklahoma will allow all retailers that sell alcohol to sell it cold from October 1, 2018.

Another confusing aspect of Indiana's alcohol laws is the open container law. Indiana actually has no restrictions on the open carrying of alcohol in public spaces, and patrons are allowed to carry an alcoholic beverage in its original container out of a premise and consume it on the sidewalks. However, individual premises may not allow drinks to be carried out as part of their policy. People in motor vehicles are not permitted to have an open container unless they are paying for a ride in a vehicle such as a cab or are in the living quarters of a recreational vehicle.

The state also has strict laws regarding underage drinking and selling liquor without a license. It is illegal to buy or consume alcohol until the age of 21, and individuals under 21 must be supervised by an adult to enter a liquor store. To sell liquor, individuals must also be 21 or supervised by an adult, and it is illegal to sell alcohol to a minor. Minors are also prohibited from entering bars and taverns. Indiana law requires permittees and their employees to check the identification of any person under the age of 40 when conducting carryout sales.

Indiana has more than 50 types of alcohol licenses, including common permits such as a two-way permit that allows for beer and wine sales, and a three-way permit that includes liquor. However, Indiana limits the number of licenses per area, so getting a license can be difficult. License holders who are going out of business or looking to cash in have been known to sell their permits privately for as much as $400,000.

With so many laws and regulations regarding liquor in Indiana, it is important for residents and visitors to stay informed to avoid fines or imprisonment.

Alcohol sales in Indiana were banned on Sundays before March 2024

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as confusing, archaic, and obsolete. Before March 2018, alcohol sales were banned on Sundays. This ban was in place due to pressure from religious leaders, particularly Methodists and Baptists, who wanted to preserve Sunday as a day of worship. The state's small but powerful liquor store lobby also opposed lifting the ban, fearing a loss of market share and the inconvenience of staffing their stores for an extra day each week.

However, growing public support for Sunday sales eventually forced the liquor store industry to ally with large grocery store competitors. Liquor stores agreed to drop their opposition to Sunday sales in exchange for grocery retailers agreeing to protect their virtual monopoly on cold beer sales. On February 28, 2018, Governor Eric Holcomb signed Senate Bill 1, allowing alcohol sales on Sundays from noon to 8 pm by grocers, convenience stores, and liquor stores. The first official day of Sunday carryout sales at these retailers was March 4, 2018.

Indiana's alcohol laws have evolved significantly over the years. Until 2015, alcohol sales were banned on Christmas Day. Alcohol sales were also prohibited on Election Day until 2010. Indiana is one of 26 states that allow alcohol sales in grocery stores. Additionally, the state permits drinking alcohol in public places and allows passengers to consume alcohol in vehicles if they are paying for their ride or drinking in the living area of an RV.

Indiana has also made changes to its alcohol policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To support struggling bars and restaurants, Governor Holcomb relaxed policies around alcoholic drink orders with takeout meals. These changes were made permanent in 2021, allowing businesses to continue selling carryout alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol sales laws vary from state to state

Alcohol sales laws vary significantly across the United States, with each state having its own rules and regulations. The Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution grants each state the power to regulate intoxicating liquors within their jurisdiction. As a result, there are two common types of liquor regulatory systems in the US: open states and control states.

In open states, private businesses are permitted to buy and sell alcohol according to state laws. On the other hand, control states, also known as Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) states, give the state government control over the distribution and/or sale of alcohol. There are currently 17 control states in the US, including Alabama, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia.

The differences between open and control states can be seen in the licensing process, the types of alcohol sold, pricing, and the days and hours of sale. For example, in control states, the government usually runs the wholesale operation, and alcohol is either delivered to private off-premise retailers or sold through state-run off-premise retailers. The state also sets the minimum price for each product. In contrast, open states allow private retailers to sell alcohol with fewer restrictions.

The variation in alcohol sales laws between states can be seen in the sale of alcohol on Thanksgiving. While some states allow the sale of alcohol on this holiday, others prohibit it entirely or restrict the sale to beer and wine only. For instance, in Indiana, alcohol can be purchased on Thanksgiving, but there are restrictions on the sale of cold beer by grocery stores and gas stations.

The complexity of alcohol sales laws in the US is further increased by the presence of dry counties, which are counties where alcohol sales are prohibited entirely. These exist in both open and control states, demonstrating the localized nature of alcohol regulation in the country.

It is a criminal offence to sell or furnish alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person in Indiana

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as archaic, obsolete, contradictory, and confusing. While alcohol sales were banned on Sundays before March, and before 2015, no alcohol was sold on Christmas Day, Hoosiers can now buy alcohol on Thanksgiving, as well as on Christmas Day and Sundays.

However, it is important to note that it is a criminal offence to sell or furnish alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person in Indiana. According to Indiana Code 7.1-5-10-15, it is a Class B misdemeanour for a person who, knowing that another person is intoxicated, sells, barters, delivers, or gives away an alcoholic beverage to the intoxicated person. The term "alcoholic beverage" refers to a liquid or solid that contains one-half percent (0.5%) or more alcohol by volume and is fit for human consumption.

In addition to criminal penalties, providers who sell or furnish alcoholic beverages to intoxicated individuals may also face civil liabilities if death or injury, even to a third party, occurs as a result of their actions. This means that they can be held legally responsible for any harm caused by the intoxicated person.

To avoid breaking the law, permittees and their employees are required to check the identification of any person under the age of 40 when conducting carryout sales of alcoholic beverages. While there is no similar ID requirement for on-premise consumption, the Excise Police recommend requiring identification from anyone appearing under 26 years of age.

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