A coalition of grocery stores, business and consumer groups is renewing the push to end Indiana’s ban on Sunday alcohol sales. The group says 2015 is their best chance yet.
The newly-formed Hoosiers for Sunday Sales says the push this time is different, in part because previous efforts have been joined with ending the prohibition on cold beer sales at grocery stores – an issue that’s now tied up in court.
By focusing solely on Sunday sales, advocates say, there’s a better chance at success. The Indiana Chamber notes the state loses $10 million to $12 million a year in alcohol sales to neighboring states. And Kroger spokesman John Elliott says that number doesn’t tell the whole story.
“We are giving up the entire shopping excursion," says Elliot. " It might include a meal, or fuel, and certainly the entire shopping list for that store.”
Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers CEO Patrick Tamm, who represents liquor stores, says the push to end the Sunday sales ban isn’t part of a Hoosier groundswell – he says it’s out-of-state interests and big business that’s driving it.
“We just celebrated Small Business Saturday, right? And so then today we turn around and go, ‘Screw you small business.’ By law, we have to be Indiana residents," says Tamm. "We are Indiana business owners.”
Tamm notes Indiana stores are allowed to sell alcohol 73 percent of the hours in the week. He says allowing Sunday sales will only hurt liquor stores because it will increase their operating costs by having to open an extra day without sufficiently adding sales.
