Indiana

Sunday Sales

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Indiana lawmakers are deciding whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales in grocery and liquor stores.

Proponents say Hoosiers want to be able to buy beer, wine and spirits on Sunday, opponents say it will lead to more alcohol-related problems and that mom and pop stores will lose money from having to be open an extra day.

I have never quite Indiana’s alcohol laws to be quite frank.  It makes no sense to me that I can’t buy liquor at the grocery store on Sunday, take it home and enjoy it.  But I can go to the local bar, get all good and liquored up, get behind the wheel of my Mitsubishi and play Speed Racer.

Liquor store owners say if alcohol is sold on Sundays they won’t be able to able to compete with the bigger box stores.  I respectfully disagree.  First of all, if you are providing good service and have loyal customers they are going to stay with you, regardless.

Second, some liquor store owners say they don’t want to work on Sunday.  Tough.  In the 21st century we all have to work when we would rather be doing something else. And there’s no law that says you have to be open on Sunday if being open is going to cost you money.   There are a number of establishments in Indianapolis that are closed on Sundays but still manage to compete just fine with businesses that are open.

It’s time to bring Indiana’s alcohol laws into the 21st century.  Who wouldn’t drink to that?

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on September 16, 2009 (boomark / email).