Want to End the Ban of Alcohol Sales on Sundays?

[Ogre]

Seems to me when I came to live in Indiana in 1987, there were a number of things that couldn't be sold in Indiana on Sundays. It's a holdover from a time when the family worked six days and, even on farms, the Sabbath was reserved for church activities and rest. Such "blue laws" were not unknown in the southern states when I was passing through (military training at various bases) in the 70's. As I remember it, Louisiana had Parishes (county equivalents) where this was so, as did East Texas and Alabama. As it is here, the pressures to keep the bans in place were traditional and financial, and the pressures to overturn the bans were mainly financial.

In fact, I remember a time when you could not legally purchase Coors beer East of the Mississippi river.

Buying/selling automobiles (dealership) on Sunday is another.

 

[milltech]

Makes little difference to me, like someone already said I always have beer in the fridge.

 

[bmmonts76]

I have a friend that lives in Milwaukee and they seem to have laws on alcohol sales that make a little more sense. They can buy alcohol any day of the week but only until 8:00 pm (I think, give or take an hour). The Sunday law doesn't make any sense, but not allowing late night sales probably helps eliminate some drunken late night beer runs.

 

[paddling_man]

In TN there were separate liquor stores (NOT State owned) but only sold wine and liquor. Beer (COLD) was sold at grocery and convenient stores. In all of the most backward areas, it wasn't "dry" on Sunday for beer. Liquor, yes.

MO COLD wine and beer at grocery and convenient stores but, IIRC, liquor was only at a liquor store. Again, sales on Sunday were fine. Oddly, they had many, many discount cigarette stores.

Growing up in Florida was strange in the seventies with ABC (Alcohol Beverage Control) stores as the venue for liquor and beer which often had little tiny "lounges" attached. Beer was available in other venues as well.

It's all BS.

 

[popeye]

I live 3 miles from the Illinois line. Gas here is usually 15-20 cants a gallon cheaper here than Illinois. The closest liquor store in Illinois legally opens at noon on Sunday. Cigarettes are cheaper in Indiana. Illinois beer/liquor is cheaper. All pricing differentials are due to tax rates. Sunday is a madhouse around the state line especially around noon. People from Illinois buying gas and smokes for the next week. People from Indiana rushing to Illinois liquor stores.

 

[$mooth]

I remember seeing a blue law activist in an interview claiming Sunday restrictions were about keeping the family together. So Dad and Mom can go to the bar and get plastered without their kids, or stay home and have a beer with the kids around (i know, exagerating).

Back in Texas, I believe alcohol sales were banned before noon on Sundays (not to compete with Church?), But kids were allowed in bars with their parents. In fact, they were allowed to drink in public if given to them by their parent (who had to be present the whole time). I'm a fan of that as it makes the parent raise their kid, not the state. We already have child endagerment laws; if a parent is way overboard then they can still be held accountable.

 

[$mooth]

I live 3 miles from the Illinois line. Gas here is usually 15-20 cants a gallon cheaper here than Illinois. The closest liquor store in Illinois legally opens at noon on Sunday. Cigarettes are cheaper in Indiana. Illinois beer/liquor is cheaper. All pricing differentials are due to tax rates. Sunday is a madhouse around the state line especially around noon. People from Illinois buying gas and smokes for the next week. People from Indiana rushing to Illinois liquor stores.

I was always under the belief that interstate transport of liquor was illegal. I lived in VA for a while, and every now and then here of DC police busting a VA driver heading back after purchasing liquor in DC.

 

[garlic_b]

This is great. I hope it get's traction. Anything to get rid of these pesky religiously influenced laws co-authored by the Winery Lobby.

In China you can go to a liquor store (no age limits) or a bank on Sunday. I think this reeks of a socialist plot by Obama to intoxicate the stupid public into voting for him again.

 

[jdhaines]

I'm not a big drinker, and the ban doesn't affect me personally...that said, I am for changing any law that restricts the choices of consumers. If someone wants to get some alcohol, I don't agree with government telling him no just because it's a certain day of the week.

 

[popeye]

I was always under the belief that interstate transport of liquor was illegal. I lived in VA for a while, and every now and then here of DC police busting a VA driver heading back after purchasing liquor in DC.

I THINK it's O.K. as a personal consumption thing for liquor. Although you may be right. Cigarettes and fireworks see the occasional "bust" at the state line.

 

[Ogre]

I THINK it's O.K. as a personal consumption thing for liquor. Although you may be right. Cigarettes and fireworks see the occasional "bust" at the state line.

PRetty sure it has to be a large amount that would indicate bootlegging. I beleive the amount is also up to the discretion of officer? I was always leary of going to Lake Cumberland for boating trips because I would be carrying several cases of beer and severl 1/2 Gal. of liquor across state line and through KY. I was probably concerned for nothing thogh.

 

[rambone]

I wish so many people weren't apathetic about infringements on their liberty. It doesn't matter if its a ban on alcohol on Sundays, a ban on tanning for 17 year olds, a ban on smoking inside private businesses... You should oppose these footholds of Big Government, even if they all don't affect you.

 

[chizzle]

+1

I'm not a big drinker, and the ban doesn't affect me personally...that said, I am for changing any law that restricts the choices of consumers. If someone wants to get some alcohol, I don't agree with government telling him no just because it's a certain day of the week.

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Does anyone know our local politicians' stances on this proposal? I wish there was something like the NRA grading system for this, so we knew who supports our beliefs!

 

[paddling_man]

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Does anyone know our local politicians' stances on this proposal? I wish there was something like the NRA grading system for this, so we knew who supports our beliefs!

Jerry Torr

from House District39 <H39@iga.in.gov>
to xxxxx
date Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 9:01 AM
subject RE: A message from a supporter of Hoosiers for Beverage Choices
mailed-by iga.in.gov

hide details 9:01 AM (11 hours ago)

xxx,

Thanks for taking the time to share your comments about Sunday alcohol sales in Indiana.

I completely agree with you that there is no good public policy argument against Sunday alcohol sales. I do believe, however, that we need to have a larger discussion about all laws governing the retail sale of alcohol. It seems to me (and based on prior survey responses most of my constituents agree) that all alcohol retailers should follow the same rules and regulations. Under current law, grocery stores and drug stores do not have to follow the same hiring and training requirements that package liquor stores do. If they are all going to sell the same regulated product, doesn't it make sense that they all follow the same rules?

Thanks again for writing. I appreciate hearing from you and look forward to any additional comments that you may have.

Jerry Torr

Scott Schneider

Scott Schneider <SSCHNEID@iga.in.gov>
to xxxx
date Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 11:06 AM
subject RE: A message from a supporter of Hoosiers for Beverage Choices
mailed-by iga.in.gov

hide details 11:06 AM (9 hours ago)


Thank you for your email regarding Sunday alcohol sales. I appreciate knowing your position on this issue.



As you may know, the 2010 legislative session has come to a close. However, if this issue is granted a hearing during the next legislative session, I will be sure to keep your position in mind.



Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Your input is invaluable to the legislative process.



Sincerely,

cid:image003.jpg@01CB1904.6DC5E340

Senator Scott Schneider

Senator, District #30

 

[slacker]

On a similar note, we should be able to order wine online in Indiana (other than wine for instate wineries, like Oliver).

Here is a response that I literally just got from an email I sent on the subject.

Dear Mr. Jackson:
Thank you for sharing with me your concerns about H.R. 5034, the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act of 2010. I appreciate having the benefit of your views.

H.R. 5034 seeks to reaffirm the primacy of state regulation of alcohol in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in Granholm v. Heald, which held that prohibitions against through-the-mail sales by out of state vineyards violated the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. As Congress considers reforms to the regulatory framework surrounding the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages, we must carefully balance the rights of producers and consumers with the need to protect young people from alcohol abuse. I will closely follow consideration of H.R. 5034 in the House Committee on the Judiciary with your concerns in mind.

Thank you, again, for taking the time to contact me.


Sincerely,


Richard G. Lugar
United States Senator

 

[dross]

I wish so many people weren't apathetic about infringements on their liberty. It doesn't matter if its a ban on alcohol on Sundays, a ban on tanning for 17 year olds, a ban on smoking inside private businesses... You should oppose these footholds of Big Government, even if they all don't affect you.

What he said.

Apparently my liberty to rep you has been infringed.

 

[CarmelHP]

J
I completely agree with you that there is no good public policy argument against Sunday alcohol sales. I do believe, however, that we need to have a larger discussion about all laws governing the retail sale of alcohol. It seems to me (and based on prior survey responses most of my constituents agree) that all alcohol retailers should follow the same rules and regulations. Under current law, grocery stores and drug stores do not have to follow the same hiring and training requirements that package liquor stores do. If they are all going to sell the same regulated product, doesn't it make sense that they all follow the same rules?

Scott Schneider

I have to agree. If you're going to change the law, let's have a comprehensive overhaul that levels the field.

 

[indyk]

Lets sign if you havn't

Need to revive this thread!

Those who are ready to move on this would like some more signatures for the online petition.

sign the online petition.

Hoosiers for Beverage Choices

 

[steveh_131]

How about we make it a level playing field.

Because a truly level playing field would mean that a grocery store, a liquor store, a book store, a barber shop, etc. could sell any alcohol they wanted, cold or not.

But that's not what liquor stores want.

They want to keep their government sponsored monopoly on cold alcohol while not having to compete with larger stores that are economically able to stay open 7 days a week.

So, again, they don't want a level playing field. They want to keep their antiquated government-created monopoly.

 

[dross]

I'd like to see gun shops sell alcohol. Think about it: the markup on alcohol is so big that most restaurants make their money on the alcohol sales. The food is just to get you in the door. Since lots of people come to gun shops to browse, selling alcohol to them could give them a higher profit margin. This would bring down the price of guns because the guns would become a loss leader to get customers in the store to buy the alcohol.

"Gimme 500 rounds of .223 and a 12 pack to go, please."