Indiana has some of the most restrictive alcohol laws in the United States. It is the only state that regulates alcohol sales based on temperature and prohibits the sale of packaged beer, wine, and liquor in grocery and convenience stores on Sundays. Only liquor stores are allowed to sell cold beer, and they have successfully lobbied to maintain this advantage. This has created a conflict of interest, as influential Indiana Republicans have invested in liquor stores while preventing cold beer sales in other retail outlets. Convenience and grocery stores have attempted to find creative ways to circumvent the law, such as selling Chill Indiana Glacier Bags, which customers can fill with ice after purchasing warm beer.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type of stores that can sell cold beer | Liquor stores |
Type of stores that can't sell cold beer | Grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies |
Type of stores that can sell warm beer | Grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies |
Type of stores that can't sell warm beer | Liquor stores |
Type of stores that can sell cold wine and cider | Grocery stores, convenience stores |
Type of stores that can't sell cold wine and cider | Liquor stores |
Type of stores that can sell cold soft drinks | Grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies |
Type of stores that can't sell cold soft drinks | Liquor stores |
Type of stores that can sell cold orange juice | Liquor stores |
What You'll Learn
Indiana's cold beer laws
Currently, Indiana law prohibits the sale of cold beer by gas stations, grocery stores, and pharmacies. Only liquor stores are allowed to sell refrigerated beer for carryout. This restriction has been in place since 1963 when package liquor stores were first permitted to sell cold beer. While Sunday alcohol sales were legalized in 2018, the ban on cold beer sales by grocery and convenience stores remains in place.
The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association have challenged the state's law, arguing that it is unconstitutional and creates a discriminatory regulatory regime that puts their businesses at a competitive disadvantage. However, legal experts believe the group is unlikely to succeed, as the state has broad powers to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol.
The debate over cold beer sales in Indiana involves a complex web of alliances and compromises between different interest groups. Liquor stores have long guarded their exclusive right to sell cold beer, arguing that it is crucial for their survival. On the other hand, grocery and convenience stores have pushed for the expansion of cold beer sales, seeing it as a way to boost their businesses.
Compromises have been reached in the past, such as when grocery stores agreed to drop their support for cold beer sales in exchange for liquor stores' support for Sunday sales. However, convenience stores have continued to advocate for the ability to sell cold beer. The powerful package liquor store lobby, influenced by key Republican lawmakers, has successfully blocked these efforts, arguing that changing the status quo would be unfair to their businesses.
As a result of Indiana's cold beer laws, consumers in the state must purchase their beer at room temperature from grocery and convenience stores, unless they opt to buy it from a liquor store, where it will be refrigerated.
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Liquor stores vs. grocery stores
Indiana is the only state in the US that regulates alcohol sales based on temperature. The state's liquor laws have been the subject of much debate in recent years, with grocery and convenience stores pushing to be allowed to sell cold beer. However, liquor stores have successfully lobbied lawmakers to maintain their monopoly on cold beer sales, arguing that it keeps them in business. This has led to conflict-of-interest questions involving the industry's clout at the Statehouse, as influential Indiana Republicans have a stake in liquor stores.
The debate over cold beer sales in Indiana has pitted liquor stores against grocery and convenience stores. Liquor stores have long been the only outlets allowed to sell cold beer in the state, and they have guarded this advantage closely. They argue that allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell cold beer would put them out of business, as customers would prefer to buy their beer while doing their weekly shopping. On the other side, grocery and convenience stores argue that the current law is inconvenient for consumers and hurts their bottom line. They also point out that the law makes Indiana unique among US states in regulating alcohol sales based on temperature.
The battle over cold beer sales has involved lobbying, lawsuits, and even attempts by convenience stores to circumvent the law by offering prepared food and qualifying for a restaurant permit. Despite the efforts of grocery and convenience stores, the liquor lobby has successfully convinced lawmakers to maintain the status quo. This has led to accusations of a monopoly and concerns about the influence of the liquor industry on lawmakers.
The issue of cold beer sales in Indiana is complex and involves alliances, compromises, and lobbying from both sides. While grocery and convenience stores have made efforts to change the law, the liquor lobby has been able to maintain its exclusive right to sell cold beer. This has led to a highly regulated liquor market in Indiana, with unique challenges and debates.
The debate over cold beer sales in Indiana highlights the differences between liquor stores and grocery stores in the state. Liquor stores have long been the only outlets allowed to sell cold beer, and they have fought hard to maintain this advantage. They argue that cold beer sales are crucial for their business and that allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell cold beer would put them at a significant disadvantage. On the other hand, grocery and convenience stores argue that the current law is inconvenient for consumers and hurts their business. They have tried various tactics to change the law, but so far, the liquor lobby has maintained its influence over lawmakers. As a result, Indiana has unique liquor laws that regulate alcohol sales based on temperature.
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The Alcohol Code Revision Commission
Indiana is the only state that regulates alcohol sales based on temperature. The Alcohol Code Revision Commission was set up to evaluate liquor laws, and it met in December 2017 to discuss expanding cold beer sales. The commission voted 8-7 in favor of the expansion, but the recommendation did not pass as it required a majority of its 17 members to vote in favor.
The package liquor store lobby has considerable influence in Indiana. For example, it has convinced lawmakers to stop the expansion of cold beer sales to grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies, despite polls showing that most Hoosiers want this measure to pass. The lobby has argued that remaining the state's exclusive outlets for cold beer sales keeps them in business.
The conflict over cold beer sales in Indiana has led to various compromises and alliances between the different interest groups. For instance, grocery stores struck a bargain with liquor stores to push for Sunday sales in exchange for giving up their bid for cold beer sales. Convenience stores, however, have continued to push for cold beer sales.
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The Chill Indiana Glacier Bag
Indiana has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the United States. The state is the only one to regulate alcohol sales based on temperature, and it is also the only state where you can't buy packaged beer, wine, and liquor on Sundays.
Convenience and grocery stores are not legally allowed to sell cold beer in Indiana, and must sell beer at room temperature. Liquor stores have exclusive rights to sell cold carry-out beer, and have been lobbying to keep it that way.
The bag is sold in several Indiana communities, but none in southeastern Indiana. The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores Association created the bag as a way to combat liquor stores' exclusive right to sell cold carry-out beer.
The bag does not violate Indiana law, as customers only ice their beer after the point of sale.
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Indiana's blue laws
Under Indiana's blue laws, alcohol sales on Sundays are limited to specific hours, typically between noon and 8 pm. Additionally, the sale of cold beer is prohibited in grocery and convenience stores, with only liquor stores authorised to sell refrigerated beer. This restriction has been a point of contention, with grocery and convenience stores lobbying to expand their ability to sell cold beer. However, liquor stores have successfully lobbied to maintain their exclusive right to sell cold beer, arguing that it keeps them in business.
The conflict over cold beer sales in Indiana involves complex alliances and compromises between different industries. Liquor stores have long been able to sell cold beer, giving them an advantage over grocery and convenience stores. In exchange for supporting Sunday sales, grocery stores agreed to drop their pursuit of cold beer sales. Convenience stores, on the other hand, continue to push for the ability to sell cold beer.
While some argue that blue laws are necessary to restrict certain activities on Sundays for religious reasons, others criticise them as outdated and detrimental to businesses and taxpayers. The Libertarian Party of Indiana, for example, advocates for the freedom of retailers to sell any products they want, on any day of the week, without the burden of these regulations.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy cold beer from liquor stores or breweries in Indiana.
Cold beer sales in grocery stores are restricted by Indiana's liquor laws.
Efforts to expand cold beer sales to grocery stores have stalled at the Statehouse. Insiders believe change is inevitable but it is likely to take years.
Convenience stores are also not allowed to sell cold beer. However, one chain, Ricker's, has found a loophole by obtaining alcohol permits usually assigned to restaurants.