http://www.post-trib.com/news/1989610,gaalcohol.article
January 14, 2010INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosier craft beer brewers are seeking the right to sell their unique concoctions on Sundays, a change in state law they say would put them on equal footing with the state’s wineries.
Theirs was one of two bills heard by committees Wednesday at the Statehouse that could change Indiana’s alcohol laws.
The bill that would authorize Sunday microbrewery sales passed muster with the Senate’s commerce committee in a 9-2 vote. Mark Webb of the Brewers of Indiana Guild called his member breweries “good corporate citizens” whose beer likely represents less than 1 percent of all beer consumed in Indiana.
Members of the Guild include Three Floyds Brewing Co. in Munster, Crown Brewing Co. in Crown Point, Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant in Michigan City and Back Road Brewery in LaPorte.
Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, and chairman of the committee, said he saw the bill as an opportunity to support local businesses.
Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, said he is an opponent of access to alcohol, but he said the Hoosier brewers convinced him to vote in favor of the bill. Among the influencing factors he said, are prices that could reach as high as $9 a glass.
“I don’t think they’re going to be gulping it,” Taylor said. “I don’t think they could.”
The bill now moves to the full Senate for a second reading.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives’ public policy committee heard testimony on a bill authored by Democrat Rep. Trent Van Haaften of Mount Vernon and Republican Rep. Matthew Bell of Avilla that would allow alcohol to be sold on election days.
The committee didn’t take a vote.
Democratic committee member Rep. Scott Pelath of Michigan City, who authored a similar bill, said the committee is likely to consolidate all House alcohol measures into one piece of legislation before voting.
Good news Indiana!