Battle brewing over cold beer sales

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Later this year, Indiana lawmakers are expected to debate whether to allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays by retailers, as well as the sale of cold beer by outlets that can't do that now. The issue is already pitting Indiana's biggest retailers against the smallest package liquor stores.

Grocery stores, drug stores and convenience stores want the right to sell alcohol on Sundays. Liquor stores would too, but they argue letting other stores sell cold beer would be unfair competition.

"Our customers are telling us on the second busiest shopping day of the week, Sunday, that they want the ability to do all their family grocery shopping," said Grant Monahan, President of the Indiana Retail Council . "If that involves purchasing alcoholic beverages for consumption at home, they should be able to do that."

Retailers will lobby legislators this fall to open up Sunday liquor sales for Indiana consumers.

"I know a lot of people who cook out on Sundays and can't get to the liquor store on Saturday nights," said Julie Austin. "It's a problem. I think they should (allow Sunday sales)."

They also argue that allowing retailers to sell cold beer would lower the price liquor stores charge .

"They make their customers pay for that privilege," said Monahan. "They charge, on average, statewide, $1.07 more for a cold case of beer than a warm case."

But talk to liquor store retailers and they'll say this is not as much about convenience as it is competition.

"What this is about is big guy versus little guy," said Ray Cox, a liquor store owner and spokesman for the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers . "We've competed with guys like Wal-Mart, Kroger, Meijer for years. They've tried to put us out of business. They haven't been able to do it through competition, now they're asking the legislature to help."

Cox predicts adding Sundays won't add up at the cash register.

"When you take six days of sales and spread it over seven days, that increases our overhead and really doesn't increase any volume," he said.

Retailers who want Sunday sales say an investigation by Indiana Excise Police showed liquor stores were nearly twice as likely to sell to minors as other retail outlets. But liquor stores point out a study that showed a repeal of a law banning Sunday sales in New Mexico led to a 29 percent jump in vehicle crashes involving alcohol on Sundays.