New Alcohol Law for Indiana
By: Michael Konopasek
Updated: June 28, 2010
No matter your age, get ready to show your ID if you want to buy alcohol in Indiana.
A new state law will soon make buying liquor a bit more complicated.
Starting Thursday, July 1, whether you're 21 or 101, a new state law will require you to prove your age.
Retailers who do not card each and every customer buying alcohol run the risk of being fined and charged with misdemeanors.
Currently, in the Hoosier State, retailers don't need to card as long as they are sure they are not selling alcohol to those under 21.
In a couple of days, that will change and there is mixed reaction to how the new law will play out.
"It's definitely going to make it a lot easier for us to do business," said John McCullough, owner of Frontier Liquors in Evansville. "We just ID everybody. We don't have to profile."
McCullough is also a board member of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers.
McCullough says businesses will need to check all IDs, but businesses will only face charges if they get caught failing to check the IDs of people under 50.
Not all liquor store owners think the new law is fair.
Steve Newmann owns Kwik Stop on the North Side.
Newmann says the new law discriminates against those who do not have IDs.
"It's going to be complicated at first," said Newmann. "It's something you're going to have to comply with and going to have to do regardless if you like it or not," Newmann added.
Newmann says it will be a difficult transition for some of his regulars.
The new law only affects retailers that sell alcohol to go. Bars and restaurants will not be faced with the stricter carding law.
Most proponents say the new law will make it harder for teenagers to buy alcohol.
