When To Buy Warm Beer In Indiana

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as archaic and obsolete, at times contradictory, and often confusing. The state's laws are a legacy of Prohibition, and of its end, which allowed states to set their own rules. Indiana is one of very few states that regulate the sale of drinks based on temperature. While liquor stores can sell cold beer, grocers, convenience stores and pharmacies are not allowed to. Indiana's alcohol sale hours are simple: you can buy beer, wine, or liquor between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. any day of the week at on-premise retailers, and off-premise retailers can sell alcohol during the same hours from Monday until Saturday. On Sundays, off-premise retailers are restricted to 12 p.m. through 8 p.m.

Indiana's alcohol laws are a legacy of Prohibition

The state's alcohol laws have been described as "archaic and obsolete, at times contradictory, and often confusing". For example, Indiana was one of nearly a dozen US states to ban all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants until 2018. This ban was in place due to pressure from religious leaders, who wanted to reserve the day for worship. However, in recent years, the primary group keeping the ban in place was the small but powerful liquor store lobby, which feared losing market share to grocery stores and did not want to staff their stores for an extra day each week.

In 2018, growing public support for Sunday sales forced the liquor store industry to strike an alliance with their large grocery store competitors. Liquor stores agreed to drop their opposition to Sunday sales in exchange for grocery retailers agreeing to protect the liquor stores' virtual monopoly on cold beer sales. On February 28, 2018, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation that allows grocery, drug, convenience, and liquor stores to sell alcohol on Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.

Another example of Indiana's confusing alcohol laws is the fact that the state currently limits the sale of cold beer for carryout to package liquor stores. An exception has been made for breweries, which can sell beer they brew on-site for cold carryout. As of 2018, Indiana was the last state to regulate the sale of alcohol by temperature.

Alcohol can be purchased from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as "archaic and obsolete, at times contradictory, and often confusing." They are a legacy of Prohibition, and of the end of Prohibition, which allowed states to set their own rules.

Indiana's alcohol laws are a result of the state's legislative process, which has involved tweaking the laws to satisfy various interest groups. The state's alcohol laws are also influenced by the powerful liquor store industry, which has fought to maintain its market share against groceries, pharmacies, and big-box stores.

The state's alcohol laws can be found in Title 7.1 of Indiana's legal code. These laws are enforced by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, which regulates all aspects of alcohol and tobacco, including manufacturing, selling, possession, and use.

Indiana's alcohol laws have evolved over time. For example, until 2018, Indiana was one of the few states to ban all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants. This ban was repealed, and now alcohol can be purchased on Sundays, albeit with some time restrictions.

Additionally, Indiana is one of the few states that regulate the sale of drinks based on temperature. For example, grocers, convenience stores, and pharmacies are not allowed to sell cold beer, while liquor stores are permitted to do so.

Indiana's alcohol laws can be complex and are constantly evolving, with various interest groups lobbying for changes. The state's alcohol laws are intended to balance the interests of different industries, consumer demands, and public policy goals related to alcohol consumption.

Sunday alcohol sales were banned until 2018

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as “archaic and obsolete, at times contradictory, and often confusing". They are a legacy of Prohibition, which was ratified by the Indiana General Assembly in 1919, and of Prohibition's end, which opened the door for states to set their own rules.

Until 2018, Indiana was one of nearly a dozen US states to ban all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants. This ban was first put in place due to pressure from religious leaders, particularly Methodists and Baptists, and it remained in place largely due to opposition from the small but powerful liquor store lobby, which feared losing market share and didn't want to staff their stores for an extra day each week.

However, growing public support for Sunday sales changed this in 2018. The liquor store industry struck an unlikely alliance with their large grocery store competitors, agreeing 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, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed Senate Bill 1, which allows Sunday sales from noon to 8 p.m. at grocery, convenience, drug, and liquor stores. The new law went into effect on March 4, 2018, and ended a retail Sunday alcohol sales ban that began in 1816 and was reinstated after Prohibition ended in the 1930s.

Liquor stores can sell cold beer, but not grocery stores

Indiana's alcohol laws have been described as "archaic and obsolete, at times contradictory, and often confusing." They are a legacy of Prohibition, and the laws have been tweaked over time to satisfy different interest groups.

One of the most notable quirks of Indiana's alcohol laws is that liquor stores can sell cold beer, but grocery, convenience, and drug stores cannot. This is due to the influence of the liquor store lobby, which has successfully lobbied lawmakers to keep the sale of cold beer restricted to liquor stores only.

The reasoning behind this restriction is that cold beer is more likely to be consumed immediately, and restricting its sale to liquor stores helps to curb underage drinking. Liquor stores are subject to stricter regulations, such as age restrictions (no one under 21 is allowed in) and restricted hours of operation.

The battle over cold beer sales in Indiana has been ongoing for over a decade. Grocery, convenience, and drug stores have been trying to convince lawmakers to expand cold beer sales, arguing that it would improve the quality and longevity of beer. However, the liquor store lobby has pushed back, arguing that the ability to sell cold beer is what keeps them in business.

In 2017, the Alcohol Code Revision Commission voted in favor of expanding cold beer sales, but the recommendation did not pass due to a lack of majority. The grocery lobby has also made compromises in the past, agreeing to stop advocating for cold beer sales in exchange for the expansion of Sunday carryout sales.

Despite polls showing that most Hoosiers want cold beer sales expanded to grocery stores, the liquor store lobby has managed to keep this from happening through its influence in the Indiana General Assembly. This has led to conflict-of-interest questions, as some Indiana Republicans have bought into businesses that benefit from the current cold beer restrictions.

While liquor stores can sell cold beer, Indiana law permits the sale of alcohol, including warm beer, from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. Carryout alcohol sales from liquor stores, groceries, pharmacies, and convenience stores are restricted to noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Indiana is not a dry state

Indiana is not an alcoholic beverage control state. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. However, until 2018, Indiana was one of around 12 states to ban all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants. That ban was lifted when Senate Bill 1 was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on February 28, 2018. Now, alcohol can be sold from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays, and 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday to Saturday.

Indiana is the only state that regulates alcohol based on temperature. Chilled beer and wine cannot be sold in grocery and convenience stores. However, liquor stores, which are allowed to sell cold beer, are prohibited from selling snacks and groceries.

Indiana has no restrictions on the open carrying of alcohol in public spaces. Patrons are allowed to carry an alcoholic beverage in its original container out of a premise and consume it on the sidewalks. However, the premise may not allow drinks to be carried out as part of its policy. People in motor vehicles are not permitted to have an open container unless they are paying for a ride in a taxi or the living quarters of a recreational vehicle.

Indiana has over 50 types of permits for the sale of alcohol, with common permits including a two-way permit for beer and wine, and a three-way permit for beer, wine, and liquor. Indiana also has strict ID laws, requiring permittees and their employees to check the identification of anyone under the age of 40 when conducting carryout sales.

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