USA TODAY International Edition
Sunday six-packs get a thirsty Hoosier salute
Grabbing mimosa ingredients the morning of an impromptu brunch.
Picking up a bottle of red wine for Sunday dinner while grocery shopping.
Rushing out to buy a case of your favorite beer because a few of your friends have invited themselves over at the last minute to watch a full day of NFL action.
These Sunday shopping scenarios were impossibilities in Indiana. But not now.
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a historic bill Wednesday that made Sunday carryout alcohol sales legal in Indiana.
Sunday ushered in the new reality that allows grocery, package liquor, drug and convenience stores to sell alcohol between noon and 8 p.m. The milestone was still setting in for Hoosiers.
“I just always, always remember it being a thing ... something that made Indiana different or quirky or whatever,” said Phillip Harris, a Peru native who has called Carmel home for the past four years. “I remember growing up as a kid and hearing my mom or dad moan when they realized they forgot to buy wine in advance for some Sunday night gathering. Everyone just kind of threw up their hands and said, ‘Well, that’s Indiana.’ ”
The first day of Sunday carryout sales saw excitement from patrons and businesses who have long pushed for change.
Kroger spokesman Eric Halvorson said the grocery giant has assured legislators that the grocer will handle sales on Sundays in the same responsible fashion it does the other six days of the week.
“I think everyone is happy to finally have some resolution to this,” Halvorson said. “We’re thrilled that we can offer this service to our customers because we’ve heard about it for so many years. Since it’s one of the top shopping days of the week anyway, from our standpoint it just makes sense.
“In short, people are saying it’s about time.”
One of the first people in the state to take advantage of the new law was Marvin Morris at the Kroger on West Michigan Street.
He waited more than 30 minutes to ring up his case of beer. He had been grocery shopping earlier and didn’t realize that alcohol sales didn’t begin until noon.
Instead of making a trip back to the store later in the day, he waited. After a few failed swipes at the self-checkout line, the system updated when the clock struck 12.
“It’s been a long time,” Morris said after finishing the transaction.