US: Hoosiers split over liquor sales on Sunday, poll finds

Link:http://www.indystar.com/article/20081114/NEWS05/311140004
Poll finds increase in those favoring a change in the law

Hoosiers are evenly split but slowly warming up to allowing grocery and liquor stores to sell alcohol on Sundays, according to a recent Indianapolis Star/WTHR (Channel 13) poll.

State law allows alcohol to be sold "by the drink" in restaurants and bars and at sporting events on Sundays, but it bans alcohol sales in grocery and liquor stores.

The poll showed 46 percent of Hoosiers support changing that law, while 45 percent favor keeping it. Nine percent were undecided.

That shows a slight change from two years ago, when a poll conducted by The Star found that 50 percent of Hoosiers favored the Sunday ban and 43 percent opposed it.

Long a controversial issue in the marble halls of the Statehouse, the Sunday alcohol-sales issue could become a subject of debate in next year's legislative session.

Lobbyists are lining up to push their interests.

Indiana's package liquor stores oppose allowing Sunday sales because of the already increasing competition they're facing from large convenience, drug and grocery store chains.

Those large retailers, however, favor expanding sales, saying it would add convenience for Sunday shoppers.

Then there's the religious side of the argument.

Methodist and Baptist churches used to be the most stalwart opponents of Sunday sales, but that opposition has been watered down since 1973 when lawmakers voted to allow alcohol sales in restaurants, bars, hotels and private clubs.

Still, that doesn't mean the expansion should continue, said Ron Stakelbeck, an Eastside resident who participated in the poll.

"Sundays ought to be set aside as a day for God and not for indulging in physical pleasures, which includes drinking alcohol," said Stakelbeck, 46. "I drink alcohol on occasion, but I don't see the need to buy it on Sunday."

Julianne Koerner, 56, Southside, said it's time to wipe out what she thinks is an outdated statute.

"I think it's silly to believe people won't go drink on Sundays just because they're not selling alcohol at stores," Koerner said. "You can go to a bar and drink on Sunday, so the rationale that we're going to be holy on Sundays and not sell alcohol in stores is ridiculous."

Liquor store owners such as Jim Arnold, however, have opposed expanding sales to Sundays.

Arnold, who owns Kahn's Fine Wines & Spirits Superstore on Keystone Avenue near 54th Street, said any added business he would gain on Sundays would be wiped out by the additional payroll costs to keep the store open an extra day.

Plus, he said, it would be an unfair advantage for grocery and large convenience stores to sell alcohol on Sundays, one of the busiest shopping days of the week.

Evening the playing field for those large retailers without requiring them to pay for pricey liquor-store licenses also would be unreasonable, Arnold argued.

"It's an absolute loser for the package liquor stores," he said. "There is no win. I hope it fails."

Grant Monahan, president of the Indiana Retail Council, is among the chief lobbyists pushing for Sunday sales.

He said more than 15,000 Hoosiers have signed an online petition asking for the change. Despite the poll's close numbers, he said the public is more enthusiastic about expanding sales than keeping the status quo.

"This is all about consumer convenience and consumer choice," Monahan said. "Sunday is the second busiest shopping day of the week, Hoosier families are very busy running around on the weekends, and this will help provide them with one-stop shopping."

But it's about more than convenience, said John Livengood, a lobbyist for the liquor stores. He said any deregulation of alcohol -- including making it more readily available at establishments open to those younger than 21 -- will draw staunch opposition.

Livengood, president of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, said it is unlikely state lawmakers will tackle the matter during the 2009 session because a legislative study committee has finished only one year of its two years of work on alcohol issues.

Monahan, however, is pushing for legislators to debate the issue next year because the subject of Sunday sales was not among the committee's assigned tasks.

Arnold said he's hopeful lawmakers will dodge the controversial subject this time around but will prepare for its consequences -- just in case.

"What would I do with Kahn's if they allowed Sunday sales? I'd be open, but it doesn't mean I want to be," Arnold said. "I love my customers. I want them to be happy, but I know my vote on this one: It's no."

A spokeswoman for Gov. Mitch Daniels said the alcohol law is not an issue he will push in his legislative agenda.

"The governor doesn't have a position on this topic," said Jane Jankowski, Daniels' press secretary. "We'll follow the discussion in the General Assembly and see where it goes."

The poll of 600 likely general election voters was conducted Oct. 29 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Call Star reporter Bill Ruthhart at (317) 444-2771.