Alcohol Commission Uses First Meeting To Gather Ideas

A two-year study of Indiana’s alcohol laws began Tuesday with a thorough review of the history of those laws.

The alcohol commission’s goal is to modernize Indiana's complex rules for beer, wine and liquor sales. In its first meeting, representatives from a number of distributors and companies testified with their concerns.

Former state Senator Beverly Gard leads the commission, which is made up of a panel of lawmakers and non-legislators. She says with only five scheduled meetings about retail sales, she’s not sure every issue will be addressed.

But Gard says some especially controversial topics, like cold beer sales, Sunday sales, and licensing issues, will likely rise to the top of the list.

“There’s not a consistency to the solution," Gard says. "I think there’s some consensus as to what the problems are, but as to what the solutions are seems to be where the real problem lies.”

The group will ultimately make recommendations to the Indiana General Assembly.

In its first year the commission will look at retail sales. In 2018, it will study wholesale.