Study Confirms Need to Update Alcohol Laws

INDIANAPOLIS, July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Calls to modernize Indiana's
alcohol laws by allowing all licensed retailers the right to sell cold beer
were validated yesterday with the release of a report that shows drug, grocery
and convenience stores are significantly more likely to stop sales to minors
than liquor stores.

Yesterday, the Indiana State Excise Police released results of its
comprehensive two-year Survey for Alcohol Compliance, where minors accompanied
officers into alcoholic beverage establishments in an attempt to purchase
alcoholic beverages.

While drug stores had a non-compliance rate of 21 percent and grocery stores
had a non-compliance rate of 26 percent, liquor stores had a non-compliance
rate of 40 percent. "We have said from the beginning that it is very hard to
justify Indiana's outdated law allowing liquor stores the exclusive right to
sell cold beer and this comprehensive study provides empirical evidence to
support our position," said Grant Monahan of the Indiana Retail Council and
the Alliance of Responsible of Alcohol Retailers. "Policymakers have to be
asked: Why is it that the one retail group that is the most likely to sell to
minors has the exclusive right to sell cold beer?"

"Throughout the course of this debate, the liquor store industry has
consistently said that only they could safely and responsibly sell cold beer.
This study debunks this myth once and for all. It is shocking that in this
study almost one out of every two minors entering a liquor store could
purchase alcohol," Monahan said.

Despite the fact that drug, grocery and convenience stores ranked among the
best among alcoholic beverage establishments when it came to stopping sales to
minors, Monahan said that his group is not satisfied. "Let me be perfectly
clear, one sale to a minor is one too many. Our members will continue to
intensify our employee training programs to drive down our non-compliance rate
even further."

Monahan also said that the study confirmed what his group has found by
analyzing records at the state's Alcohol and Tobacco Commission that show
liquor stores account for significantly more violations for selling to minors
than drug, grocery or convenience stores. Since 2005, liquor stores received
74 percent of retail violations when it came to selling to minors.

"In recent months, we have raised concerns that the hidden 'cold beer tax'
where liquor stores routinely add a surcharge to the price of cold beer is
costing Hoosiers millions of dollars annually. Now, however, it is clear that
allowing liquor stores to have a monopoly over cold beer sales is much more
than an economic issue, it is a serious public safety issue as well."

Indiana is the only state in the country that discriminates against drug,
grocery and convenience store customers by allowing only one class of
retailers - liquor stores - the right to sell cold beer. Indiana is one of
only 15 states that still prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday
and is one of only three states that prohibits Sunday carryout sales yet
allows for sales at restaurants, taverns and sporting events.

Just last week, Hoosiers for Beverage Choices announced a renewed campaign at
statewide retail locations to enlist customer support to change Indiana's
antiquated liquor laws by allowing Sunday carry-out sales and giving all
licensed retailers the right to sell cold beer. Since its inception last
August, more than 25,000 Hoosiers have already signed the online petition at
www.beveragechoices.com .

SOURCE The Alliance of Responsible Alcohol Retailers (ARAR)

Responsible Alcohol Retailers, Grant Monahan, +1-317-847-3459