Sunday Alcohol Sales

After decades of debate, Hoosiers will finally be able to buy alcohol on Sundays, starting this weekend. Governor Eric Holcomb signed the bill into law Wednesday.

“The prohibition of Sunday sales in the state of Indiana is over,” Holcomb said at the signing.

But, the battle over alcohol reform in Indiana is far from over.

Sunday Sales Ban Dates Back Nearly A Century

The Indiana Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill Monday to legalize Sunday alcohol carryout sales. It’s the first time the Senate has ever approved such legislation.

Sunday sales has historically been a highly controversial issue at the Statehouse. It’s never so much as passed a Senate committee before this year, let alone the whole chamber. Yet there was no debate on the measure Monday.

Legislative leaders confirm that a push to allow grocery and convenience stores to sell cold beer is dead for the 2018 session. But those same leaders offer supporters hope for the future.

A bill to legalize Sunday alcohol sales took a step closer to passage in the House Wednesday as a committee approved the measure 12-1.

The bill is simple – any retailer that sells alcohol Monday through Saturday could now sell it on Sunday, but only from 12 p.m to 8 p.m. Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville) drafted an amendment to expand those hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Senate Republican leaders outlined their 2018 priorities Monday. Those priorities include Sunday alcohol sales, the roll-out of mandated prescription monitoring to prevent opioid abuse, workforce development, and the regulation of property seizure.

Also included in those priorities is a bill to cover a school funding gap, by allowing the State Budget Agency to transfer reserve money.

A special panel studying Indiana’s alcohol laws recommends the legislature legalize Sunday alcohol laws – with some limitations. The commission Tuesday postponed any other recommendations.

The alcohol commission voted in support of a preliminary draft for legislation to allow Sunday alcohol sales. The proposal would give liquor, grocery, and convenience stores the ability to sell alcohol for carry-out between noon and 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Indiana Senate GOP Leader David Long chose a familiar face to lead a new commission studying the state’s alcohol laws – former Republican Sen. Beverly Gard.

Gard served 24 years in the Indiana Senate. Her time there included committee leadership on regulatory and environmental issues.

Change could be coming for Indiana’s alcohol laws after legislative leaders announced a two-year study of the state’s alcohol statutes. And legislators say the special commission won’t involve the alcohol industry.

Controversy this past session over convenience stores obtaining alcohol carryout permits – otherwise expressly prohibited in state law – prompted the creation of the alcohol law study commission.

On this edition of "Regionally Speaking," Tom Maloney filled-in for Chris Nolte on the "Reporter's Round Table Wrap-up."

He spoke with Dan Carden, Statehouse Reporter for The Times, about statewide alcohol legislation, road funding, and the South Shore expansion through the Region. Lakeshore Public Radio Reporter Steven Lattimore spoke to Tom about the "People's Climate Rally" march from the past weekend.

He spoke with Carole Carlson, of the Post-Tribune, about the passing of Munster and Lake Station's school referendums and the failing of East Chicago's.