Opinion ID: 3162278
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Indiana’s Permitting Statutes for Beer Sales

Text: As relevant here, Indiana issues two types of permits authorizing the sale of beer. The first is a “beer dealer’s” permit, which may be issued “to a person who desires to sell beer to customers for consumption only off the licensed premises.” IND. CODE § 7.1-3-5-1 (emphasis added). The holder of this kind of permit “may not sell beer by the drink nor for consumption on the licensed premises nor shall a beer dealer allow it to be consumed on the licensed premises.” Id. § 7.1-3-5-3(c). A beer dealer’s permit is available “only 8 No. 14-2559 to an applicant who is the proprietor of a drug store, grocery store, or package liquor store.” Id. § 7.1-3-5-2(a). Convenience stores are included within the definition of grocery stores as long as alcohol sales represent no more than 25% of their annual gross sales. Id. § 7.1-1-3-18.5. With one notable exception, holders of a beer dealer’s permit cannot sell “beer that was iced or cooled by the permittee before or at the time of the sale.” Id. § 7.1-5-1011(a). The exception is for package liquor stores, which are allowed “to sell and deliver warm or cold beer for carry-out.” Id. § 7.1-3-5-3(d) (emphasis added). We’ll return to package liquor stores in greater detail later. The second type of permit is a “beer retailer’s” permit, which may be issued “to a person who desires to sell beer to customers for consumption on the licensed premises.” Id. § 7.1-3- 4-1 (emphasis added). A beer retailer’s permit may not be issued to “[a] person who is not the proprietor of a restaurant … , or of a hotel, or of a club.” Id. § 7.1-3-4-2(a)(13) (emphasis added). Beer retailers may serve beer for consumption on the licensed premises and sell packaged beer (warm or cold) for consumption elsewhere. Id. § 7.1-3-4-6(a), (c).