House committee won’t vote on Sunday alcohol sales

Indiana's ban on Sunday retail alcohol sales likely will continue for at least another year after a legislative committee leader said Wednesday he didn't plan on holding a vote on a bill lifting the prohibition.

Bills seeking to end the ban have been filed by legislators for the past several years, but a House Public Policy Committee hearing last week marked the first time lawmakers had taken up the proposal.

Committee Chairman Bill Davis, R-Portland, said the hearing gave both sides a chance to make their arguments, but that he heard nothing new to change his position against lifting the Sunday sales ban.

Tuesday is the House deadline for bills to be approved by a committee, and Davis said he didn't plan on having another committee meeting before then.

"We've got a number of issues sitting on the docket that we're not going to hear — it's not just this bill," Davis said. "I didn't see any compelling reason to have another hearing."

Indiana is the only state that prohibits retail carryout sales of beer, wine and liquor on Sundays, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Indiana is among 12 states with limits on Sunday sales of liquor.

Liquor store owners oppose lifting the Sunday ban, arguing the change would benefit large chain grocery and convenience stores that don't face age restrictions on who can enter and don't have the same requirement of hiring clerks with state liquor licenses.

Supporters of allowing Sunday sales said it would be more convenient for customers and would eliminate an outdated law.

Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, said he sponsored the bill ending the Sunday sales ban because he thought it was inconsistent with state laws allowing alcohol sales at restaurants, bars, concerts and sporting events.

"I think it's an issue I think needs to come out of committee, that needs to have a debate on the House floor for all of us to decide what's good public policy for the state," Eberhart said.

Davis said it was unlikely that the proposal would be revived later in the legislative session that is scheduled to end in late April.

Supporters of ending the ban will continue their efforts, Indiana Retail Council President Grant Monahan said.

"We are very disappointed that chairman Davis has apparently refused to listen to Hoosiers who want greater shopping convenience, expanded buying choices and more competitive pricing," Monahan said in an e-mail comment.