Background

An Indiana legislative study committee is taking a look at alcoholic beverage statutes over the next 12+ months with an eye toward the possibility of recommending substantive changes in an area that lawmakers have been loathe to touch in decades.  The Interim Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverages is charged with studying and making recommendations to Hoosier lawmakers on several issues prior to November 1, 2009, including:

• Alcohol server training and employee permits for sales clerks in dealer establishments;
• Additional 1, 2, or 3-way permits for restaurants in economic development areas;
• Displaying alcoholic beverages in separate areas in dealer establishments; and
• The historic origins of Indiana alcoholic beverage laws and the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and its place and purpose in the twenty-first century.

The interim study committee was created as the result of a bill originally filed by Rep. Trent Van Haaften (D, Mt. Vernon), the committee’s vice-chairperson.  Committee member Rep. Matt Bell (R, Avilla) observed that several attempts have been made in recent years to overhaul Indiana’s antiquated alcoholic beverage laws, which were originally adopted in 1935.  However, the General Assembly has not been able to reconcile the various public and private interests in alcoholic beverage regulation into a modern regulatory scheme.

The first committee meeting was held August 15, 2008, in a large standing room only committee room.  Two topics were considered: additional permits for restaurants in economic development areas and Sunday sale of microbrewery products for carry-out at Indiana microbreweries.

What’s Next?

In its early consideration, the committee has taken testimony from witnesses about additional permits for economic development areas, Sunday sales for microbreweries, alcohol server training and employee permits for sales clerks in dealer establishments and displaying alcoholic beverages in separate areas in dealer establishments.  Stay tuned for the next Taft Dispatch from the Indiana Statehouse!