Lena Savoie
Indiana has specific laws that govern the sale of alcohol, which are enforced by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Alcohol sales in the state are only permitted at certain times, with restrictions in place for different types of establishments. So, when can you buy alcohol in Indiana?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Days and times alcohol can be sold | Monday to Saturday: 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM the following day. Sunday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. |
| Who can sell alcohol | Bars, restaurants, nightclubs, liquor stores, convenience stores, grocers, and microbreweries. |
| Requirements for selling alcohol | Must have a valid Employee Permit issued by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC). Must complete an approved Indiana alcohol certification course. Must be at least 21 years old. |
| Open container laws | Legal for adults 21 and over to carry and consume alcohol in public, including on sidewalks. Illegal to have open containers of alcohol in a vehicle. |
| Happy hour promotions | Allowed but promotions encouraging excessive drinking, such as "all-you-can-drink" specials, are banned. |
| Alcohol sales on election day | Allowed. Prior to 2010, alcohol sales were banned on election day. |
| Alcohol taxation | A sales tax rate of 7% applies to all alcohol purchases. Excise tax rates vary depending on the type of alcohol. |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol sales on Sundays
Indiana's alcohol laws are enforced by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Until 2018, Indiana was one of nearly a dozen US states to ban all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants. The ban was repealed when Senate Bill 1 was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on February 28, 2018.
Effective March 4, 2018, convenience stores, grocers, and liquor stores may sell alcohol from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Sundays. Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol from 7:00 am to 3:00 am the following day.
The new law was good news for breweries, which previously were not allowed to make Sunday growler, crowler, bottle, or can sales if beer was not fermented on-site. Many breweries installed a small batch system on-site to meet the letter of the law, but this is no longer necessary.
Indiana is not alone in restricting Sunday alcohol sales. Many states limit alcohol sales on Sundays, with these restrictions being remnants of Prohibition and "blue laws" supported by religious groups. Interestingly, liquor stores also supported the ban, as it meant they only had to operate six days a week, reducing wage costs.
Indiana has other unique alcohol laws. For example, it is legal for adults aged 21 and over to carry and consume alcohol in public, including on sidewalks. However, public intoxication is illegal if it endangers yourself or others, breaches the peace, or harasses or alarms others. Indiana also has an open container law, which prohibits open containers of alcohol in vehicles, even if neither the driver nor passengers are consuming it.
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Alcohol sales in grocery stores
Alcohol Sales Hours in Grocery Stores
In Indiana, alcohol sales in grocery stores are permitted from 12 pm to 8 pm on Sundays and 7 am to 3 am from Monday to Saturday. These hours apply to liquor and convenience stores as well. However, bars and restaurants with appropriate licenses can start selling alcohol as early as 7 am on Sundays.
History of Alcohol Sales Laws in Indiana
Until 2018, Indiana prohibited the sale of alcohol in stores on Sundays, with only bars and restaurants allowed to sell alcoholic beverages on that day. This ban was repealed when Senate Bill 1 was signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb on February 28, 2018, allowing Sunday alcohol sales in grocery and retail stores during specified hours.
Age Restrictions
Indiana has laws in place regarding the sale of alcohol to minors (those under 21 years old). It is illegal for those under 21 to purchase, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages. Additionally, minors are prohibited from transporting alcohol on a public highway unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Indiana also allows individuals who are at least 19 years old to sell alcoholic beverages in grocery or drug stores under the supervision of an employee who is 21 or older.
Open Container Laws
Indiana has specific open container laws that permit adults aged 21 and over to carry and consume alcohol in public places, including sidewalks. However, public intoxication that endangers oneself or others, breaches the peace, or harasses or alarms others is illegal and can result in charges. It is also illegal to have open containers of alcohol in a vehicle, regardless of whether the driver or passengers are consuming.
Happy Hour Promotions
Indiana allows happy hour discounts but prohibits promotions that encourage excessive drinking, such as "all-you-can-drink" specials. Establishments are also not permitted to provide discounts on alcohol at certain times of the day or to specific customers unless the same discount is available to everyone.
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Alcohol sales in bars and restaurants
Alcohol sales in Indiana are governed by laws that can differ from those in neighbouring states. For example, Ohio, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina all have different rules around distribution, sales, and taxation.
Until 2018, Indiana was one of around a dozen US states to ban all Sunday alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants. That ban was repealed when Senate Bill 1 was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on February 28, 2018. Now, alcohol can be sold in the state from 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM Monday to Saturday, and from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sundays. These sales include beer, wine, and spirits.
Bars and restaurants in Indiana can sell alcohol from 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM, seven days a week, provided they hold the appropriate licenses. This includes alcohol to-go, as of April 29, 2021, when temporary provisions were made permanent.
There are some restrictions on who can serve alcohol and how it is served. Anyone serving alcohol must have a valid Employee Permit issued by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC). To get this, you must complete an approved Indiana alcohol certification course. You must be at least 21 years old to serve alcohol in a bar or restaurant.
There are also rules around happy hours. It is unlawful for establishments to provide discounts on alcohol at certain times of the day that are not available to everyone. However, Indiana does allow happy hour discounts, as long as promotions do not encourage excessive drinking. For example, "all-you-can-drink" specials are banned.
Indiana also has open container laws. It is illegal to have open containers of alcohol in a vehicle, but it is legal for adults aged 21 and over to carry and consume alcohol in public, including on sidewalks. Public intoxication is illegal if your behaviour endangers yourself or others, breaches the peace, or harasses or alarms others.
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Alcohol sales to minors
Alcohol sales in Indiana start at 7:00 AM every day and end at 3:00 AM the next morning. On Sundays, alcohol sales are only allowed from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Indiana has strict laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors (those under 21 years of age). It is a criminal offence for anyone to sell, barter, exchange, provide, or furnish alcoholic beverages to a minor. This includes both direct sales to minors and providing alcohol to a minor indirectly, such as through another person. The law applies to all types of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits.
The penalties for selling alcohol to minors in Indiana are severe. A first offence is typically a Class B misdemeanour, which can result in fines and potential jail time. If the person selling alcohol to a minor has a prior conviction for a similar offence, the charge can be elevated to a Class A misdemeanour.
In addition to the legal consequences, businesses and individuals selling alcohol must also be aware of potential civil liabilities. If a minor consumes alcohol and suffers an injury or death, the provider of the alcohol may be held civilly liable.
Indiana also has laws prohibiting minors from possessing, consuming, or transporting alcohol. Minors found in violation of these laws may face criminal charges, fines, and the suspension of their driving privileges.
To prevent the illegal sale of alcohol to minors, Indiana law requires permittees and their employees to check the identification of any person under the age of 40 when conducting carryout sales. While there is no similar ID requirement for on-premise consumption, the Excise Police encourage requiring identification from anyone appearing under 26 years of age. Acceptable forms of identification include picture IDs such as a driver's license, state-issued ID card, or US Government identification.
It is important to note that Indiana law also prohibits public intoxication, which is a Class B misdemeanour. This means that it is illegal to be intoxicated in public, endangering oneself or others, breaching the peace, or harassing, annoying, or alarming another person.
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Open container laws
Indiana's alcohol laws are enforced by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. While there is no explicit open container law in Indiana, there are some circumstances under which a person could be charged with a crime while in possession of an open container.
Open Containers in Public Spaces
In Indiana, there are no explicit open container laws, meaning individuals are generally permitted to carry alcoholic drinks in public spaces, on sidewalks, and in parks. However, possession of alcohol in public could support probable cause for the criminal charge of public intoxication. If you are intoxicated by alcohol in a public place and are creating a disturbance, breaching the peace, or threatening to breach the peace, you can be charged with a Class B misdemeanour.
Open Containers in Vehicles
Indiana's open container law explicitly prohibits anyone operating a motor vehicle, including boats, cars, trucks, and 18-wheelers, from having an open container of alcohol within reach of the driver. This law does not apply to individuals travelling in motorhomes, limousines, party buses, or other for-hire vehicles, provided the driver is not in the passenger area.
Open containers may be placed in a locked compartment within the passenger area of a vehicle, such as a glovebox or centre console, or stored in the trunk.
Violating Indiana's open container law is a Class C infraction, which can result in fines and possible license suspension. If you are the driver of the vehicle and were consuming alcohol, you will face a Class B infraction.
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Frequently asked questions
Alcohol sales start at 7:00 AM in Indiana.
From Monday to Saturday, alcohol can be sold between 7:00 AM and 3:00 AM the following day. On Sundays, alcohol sales are permitted between 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
No, the timings are the same for bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. However, bars and restaurants with appropriate licenses can serve alcohol from 7:00 AM on Sundays.
No, alcohol sales are permitted every day. However, until 2018, alcohol sales were banned on Sundays and election days.
Yes, alcohol sales are restricted to those aged 21 and above. Additionally, establishments that sell alcohol by the "drink" must provide food services for a minimum of 25 people at all times.
