The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-09
REPEAL HERE,
State STUDIES
WHISKY PLANS
Method of Handling Hard
Liquor Vague; Public
Is LukeWarm.

Now that repeal of the eighteenth
amendment is fact, and no longer
subject for heated street corner
debate, it appears that those inter
ested in liquor sales, including the
public in general, are in doubt just
what to do with it.
Only the vaguest of ideas are in
the minds of sales outlets regarding
production, prices or plans after
Dec. 5, when the mechanics of re-
peal will be completed.
Locally, the indef1niteness I'M
doubtedly is traceable to the fact
that no state control system of hard
liquor has been established. Al
though speculation has been rife on
this question, with the concensus
favoring control under the present
beer plan, the statehouse authorities
have made no definite announce
ment.
Opinion Is Rejected
1t was learned yesterday that the
long looked-for opinion" from At
torney-General Philip Lutz Jr., to
Governor Paul V. McNutt, had been
rejected.
Submitting his suggestions on
hard liquor control, in memorandum
form. Acknowledgement Lutz was
instructed to clothe the ideas in
more dignif1ed garb by writing an
official opinion.
Several days ago, Mr.. Lutz indi-
Gated that his ruling would advise
sale of hard liquor for home con-
sumption, but would prohibit by
the drink" sales.
With no mode definite informa-
ton on which to work, local per-
sons interested in liquor distribu-
ton are making time and combining
activity to supplying the demand
for prescription whisky without at
tempting, at present, to broade the
market.
Reception Luke Warm
Another reason for the tepid re-
ception is that a number of poten-
tial investors in liquor businesses ad-
mittedly had their fingers burned
shortly after the return of legal
beer
Despite the stimulus of draught
beer, the entire industry is in the
throes of an expected seasonal
slump, to say nothing of the failure
of consumption to reach an antici-
pated volume.
Who knows whether the public
will take to hard liquor in quantities
sufficient to support any great num-
Der of sales outlets?" asks one au-
thority on the subject.
Volume Overestimated
Personally, think the volume of
hard liquor business is overesti-
mated and greatly exaggerated" he
continued. There undoubtedly will
be federal and state taxes amount
ing to about IS a gallon, to say
nothing of the cost of permits and
general overhead.
The sale of medicinal whisky
on prescriptions has not been up to
expectations, despite the fact that
the necessary doctors orders are
not hard to obtain.
With beer and wine abundant,
1 believe there will be a fairly lin
tied consumption of hard liquor,
and most of that will be of the
cheaper blended brands. which will
retail from SITS to $225 a pint"
Alcohol, Water Added
According to authorities on the
subject, the blended grades of whis-
ky will be in general use for the
next four years, until the distilleries
have an opportunity to increase
production of aged, bond.
The blended brands, it is ex-
planned, are in two classes. The
true blended grades are mixtures of
various well-known aged brands. BY
this method, quantities of pure
whisky, varying in age, are mixed,
to give the purchaser uncut liquor.
The other method, producing a
whisky also known in the trade as
blended" involves cutting aged
whisky with grain alcohol and dis
titled water. Naturally. it is not as
palatable as the true blend, but il
is believed it will be acceptable tc
drinkers brought up on bootleg
brands. The lower price, naturally
will have an appeal.
Such plans of distribution as
have been contemplated, in view OF
the unsettled conditions, point tc
pharmacies as the principal retail
l outlets.