Come Friday, July 1, Indiana’s craft distillers will be able to settle their products to take home on Sunday.
That’s a big deal. It puts the state’s handful of craft distillers on an even playing field with craft brewers and wineries.
They’ll be able to sell up to six 750-ml bottles of liquor on Sundays for carryout.
And they’ll be able to provide free samples at the distillery, sell directly to consumers by the drink, bottle or case at the distillery.
The law still will prohibit them selling directly to a retailer, produce more than 10,000 gallons of liquor a year or ship directly to consumers.
One indication of how important the law may be: At Huber’s Winery, about 30% of its sales are on Sunday. Starlight Distillery, owned by the same people and at the same location, can’t sell on Sundays now, but will be able to beginning July 1. Logically, it, too, should see Sunday sales reach 30%.
No one expects the expanded Sunday sales by craft distilleries to take any significant amount of business from local liquor stores. But you can expect grocers and C-store operators to call for a law allowing them to sell liquor for takeout on Sundays, too.
Other changes taking place in Indiana July 1: Farm wineries will be allowed to refill growlers and the state’s Department of Natural Resources will be permitted to apply for a three-way alcohol permit for a state park without having to obtain approval from a county alcoholic beverage board.