Alcohol permit auction creates alarm

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - This week almost 200 new alcohol permits will go up for auction in Marion County. But neighborhood leaders argue the number of permits has a direct effect on crime and quality of life.

The non-profit group Drug Free Marion County points to Broad Ripple, the community with the highest number of alcohol permits in Marion County.

The Village's densely packed shops and restaurants encourage visitors to park the car and walk. It's part of its charm. But among those shops are a bunch of bars and booze. In fact, Broad Ripple has more alcohol permits than any area in Marion County, said Jim Holland, vice-president and land use and development chair of Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA).

He said there are 50 alcohol permits within a five-block radius of the intersection Carrollton and Broad Ripple avenues.

"This is the epicenter - the epicenter of alcohol permits," said Holland, pointing to 10 bars within sight of the intersection.

He said at nightfall on the weekends, Broad Ripple "looks like Mardi Gras."

Our cameras found streets filled with rowdy revelers, bar hopping throughout the night.

And each space for rent in Broad Ripple presents the threat of a new bar - a threat the association plans to fight.

Soon, other Marion County communities could be fighting Broad Ripple's battle. On Friday, the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission or ATC plans to auction 169 new alcohol permits - 94 of which can be used by bars that sell food.

It's a number Drug Free Marion County leaders call unprecedented.

"You're talking about throwing so many permits at one time into the marketplace, I don't think it's responsible," said Nancy Beals, prevention coordinator of Drug Free Marion County.

She said the new permits are allowed by a legal loophole big enough to throw a beer keg through. The number of permits is based on census numbers taken every 10 years. The law sets a quota for permits based on population numbers. But ATC decided permits for beer, wine and liquor given to businesses in areas of the county once deemed unincorporated would not count against the quota.

"From our position, we believe that the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission is effectively determining what the population is and basing permits based off of that," said ATC spokesman Travis Thickstun.

He argues the commission's interpretation of the law ensures that businesses that got permits under the old rules get to keep them. But a coalition of neighborhood groups doesn’t buy that.

They argue too many bars in one neighborhood is more than a nuisance, saying it leads to an increase in violent crime. According to a study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol, in areas where there is more than one alcohol permit for every 500 people, violent crime increases by 3.4 incidents with each new permit.

"Where we are today, we're at one permit for every 466 persons," Beals said.

Broad Ripple has seen seven assaults or armed robberies in a month - including a reported rape on Sunday. The victim was found by patrons leaving a bar.

While the commission argues alcohol permits spur business growth, neighborhood leaders ask: Is all growth good growth?

If you'd like to learn more about the commission's plans, you can attend its public meeting at 10 a.m Tuesday in Government Center South, Room E112. The auction of alcohol permits is planned for Friday.