Sell Alcohol the Responsible Way

Every few years the issue of more alcohol deregulation is the topic of conversation across the state.  The big retailers and grocery stores want to allow Sunday alcohol sales and expansion of cold beer sales to virtually every retail outlet.  Changes in our existing three tier system would not be good public policy for Indiana.  The increased availability of alcohol would increase problems for minors, increase drunk driving, and hurt our local economies.

Alcohol is dangerous when used irresponsibly and finds its way into the hands of minors.  The public needs to maintain responsible regulations to keep the misuse of alcohol to a minimum.  In a regulated package store in Indiana, alcohol is controlled, the way it should be.  A person has to be 21 years old to enter a package store, which discourages minors from being exposed to the product.  This, in turn, lessons possible shoplifting by minors and eliminates 19 year olds from selling alcohol as is permitted in grocery stores.  This removes 19 year olds temptation to sell to younger friends.  Relying on State licensed package stores to sell alcohol by trained and licensed employees helps eliminate illegal alcohol sales.  Does Indiana really want to provide minors easier access to cold beer?  A responsible drinker knows if he is going to consume alcohol on Sunday and will buy their beverages earlier in the week.   

Reviewing statistics from other states, a stance against Sunday alcohol sales prevails.  Once New Mexico allowed Sunday alcohol sales, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health found a 29% overall increase in alcohol-related auto crashes and a 42% increase in alcohol-related auto crash fatalities on Sunday.  Sunday sales and easy access to alcohol doubles the weekend time available to purchase cold beer and alcohol, and as importantly, the convenience by which alcohol can be purchased. 

By expanding cold beer sales, availability to minors would increase from zero establishments to over 2,600 new locations across the state, many of which will undoubtedly find their product in minors’ hands.  The state can hardly afford the new enforcement agents needed to supervise these new sales locations and hours which opens the door to lax enforcement and less control.  With 80% of drivers arrested for DUI reporting that beer was their beverage of choice, predictably, DUI and alcohol related auto crashes will increase.   Why would Indiana residents want cold beer sold on every street corner as is the practice in other states and countries that have higher drunk driving fatality rates?   Is convenience really worth this cost?

Indiana is a great state with a long history of legislation that protects the best interest of each community.  I’m glad our state is in the minority when it comes to Sunday sales and cold beer sales; we have a common sense approach and one that works.  In Indiana people believe in a day of rest as well as controlled access to alcohol.

Indiana’s package stores were created by the state to provide an adult only venue for alcohol sales within city limits. Throughout the years this concept has remained primarily the same. This is a sound, prudent, and responsible concept.

Thanks for reading my column and feel free to contact me at m.karickhoff@comcast.net or 100 South Union St. Kokomo, IN 46901 with your question or concerns.