Amended Sunday alcohol sales bill heads to full House for vote

For the first time, an Indiana legislative committee voted Wednesday for a bill that would allow Sunday carryout alcohol sales in Indiana at grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores.

But House committee members' decision earlier in the day to amend House Bill 1624 to impose new restrictions on alcohol sales at those stores could undermine support for the measure.

The House Public Policy Committee formally adopted the amendment which would force new restrictions on alcohol sales by retailers other than package liquor stores. The committee later voted 10-2 in favor of the amended bill, which now moves to the full House for a vote.

Those restrictions would ban self checkout of alcohol products and require clerks to be 21. It also would require beer to be sold in a designated area, and liquor to be sold from behind a counter.

"Prohibition is over," said Chairman Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte, who said the amended measure is about convenience for consumers, not about helping package liquor stores or big box retailers.

Dermody said the change is needed because the the state is being viewed as "behind the times" and the ban on Sunday carryout sales is hurting employment recruiting efforts.

Lawmakers also were concerned about the placement of alcohol displays throughout grocery stores, he said, citing beer displays next to back-to-school promotions, for instance. That is one reason why the amendment says beer and wine must be sold in a separate aisle or room, away from other products.

Grant Monahan, president of the Indiana Retail Council, said the visibility of alcohol in stores won't increase minors' access to it. Children are already surrounded by alcohol at places like Colts games and Chuck E Cheese's, he said.

Monahan expressed reservations about the proposed change to the bill, calling the amendment "no compromise," "a liquor store wish list" and "anti-consumer."

He also said the new restrictions, if passed by the legislature, would cost $100 million in store remodelings.

Attempts to legalize Sunday carryout sales in recent years have been strongly opposed by the state's powerful liquor store lobby, which fears the measure could increase costs without generating any additional revenue.

Big Red spokesman Matt Bell said the package-store chain now supports the Sunday alcohol sales bill, with the new restrictions proposed for grocery stores and other retailers.

Bell admitted that Sunday alcohol sales had long been opposed by his company, saying it could cost them $420,000, or about $8,000 per store. It also could force some stores out of business.

But he said the public policy gains make the change worth it.

Call Star reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter: @indystartony.

What would new requirements mean?

For consumers: Convenience would be the biggest casualty. Liquor would have to be sold from behind a counter at groceries, pharmacies and convenience stores. That could mean waiting in two different lines, or waiting for a checkout clerk to fetch a bottle of liquor. Shoppers also would be prohibited from buying alcohol at self-checkout stations, which could result in longer waits.

For retailers: Supermarkets and big box retailers say the new restrictions would hurt their bottom lines. Beer and wine would have to be displayed in designated areas. Liquor would have to be sold from behind a counter. Stores like Kroger and Wal-Mart say they would have to spend millions of dollars on remodeling. At the same time, the new restrictions — including the prohibition on self-checkouts — would cause longer lines and more inconvenience, which would reduce sales.