Indiana Alcohol Bills, 2011 session update

Here’s the current legislative standings:

A) There were four competing “Identification for alcohol purchases” bills.

SB 46 - Card anyone who looks under 40. – Has gone nowhere. Essentially the same as SB 78 so it can die a quiet death.

SB 133 - Just repeals current must-card to return to the way it has been for decades. Gone nowhere sadly.

HB 1088 – The house version of SB 133. Also has died.

SB 78 - Card anyone who looks under 40. – Passed committee. Passed by Senate 47-3. Sent to house. Passed house committee with one amendment (below). Sent to House.

(a) The general assembly urges the legislative council to assign the topic of which state agency should have authority to control dangerous alcohol products to an existing study committee for study.
(b) If the topic of which state agency should have authority to control dangerous alcohol products is assigned to an existing study committee under subsection (a), the study committee shall issue a final report to the legislative council containing the study committee's finding and recommendations, including any recommended legislation concerning the topic, not later than November 1, 2011.

HB 1325 – Card anyone who looks under 40. House version of SB 78. Passed committee. Passed House. Senate committee added microbrewery limit of 30,000 bbls instead of 20,000 bbls. Sent to Senate.

This microbrewery limit gives breweries under (now) 20,000 bbls the OK to sell at the brewery (as in tasting room or brewpub) and to self-distribute. A raise to 30,000 bbls means Three Floyds will have to come back again for another ceiling in a couple of years.

B) Other Stuff:

SB 197 – Alcoholic beverage matters – Creates Supplemental dealer’s permit (Sunday carryout sales) and Cold Beer dealer’s permit, both for grocery/convenience stores. Package stores would be able to sell on Sunday without a permit. Seems to have died in committee.

SB 112 - Alcoholic beverage wholesalers – Wholesalers can handle all three: beer, wine, and liquor. Passed committee. Amended to allow allow one wholesaler to “provide services” for another wholesaler such as store beverages, deliver beverages, take payments for beverages. In other words, wholesalers will be able to farm out brands. Heading for senate vote.

SB 1093 - Serving alcohol during the Indiana State Fair – Looks to have died in committee. Dammit.