Mark Olejniczak
The way the calendar falls this year, liquor stores across Indiana will be closed on traditionally two of their biggest sales days of the year: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
The state of Indiana prohibits all take-out liquor sales on Sundays. Liquor stores also must be closed for the Monday holidays of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Andrew Freeman a cashier at Save–On Liquor, at 14th and Madison streets doesn’t feel it will be an issue for customers coming into the store.
Freeman mentioned that the store has taken the initiative of posting a sign on the door recently to serve as a reminder to customers.
“It shouldn’t be a shock to them,” Freeman points out. “With liquor stores already closed on Sundays it really shouldn’t be an issue.”
Freeman believes many people will just follow their normal pattern of coming in on Saturdays and thinks the store will see an increase in sales on both Saturdays before the holidays.
Terry Walls of Anderson, said he will be making his purchases on Friday to avoid some of the rush.
“I think you will see some people start to panic when they look at the calendar,” Walls said. “It is such a busy time of year, I believe as both holidays get closer people will be hustling to the store.”
Brad Klopfenstein, executive director of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association, said he is doing his best to remind consumers that liquor stores will be closed for two days straight on both holiday weekends.
New Year’s Eve is typically the busiest day of the year for liquor stores, according to Klopfenstein. He advises consumers to just plan ahead for holiday parties or if the weather is bad.
“We need to get the word out best we can to let the consumers know that liquor stores will be closed on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve this year,” Klopfenstein said.
Klopfenstein said new legislation was passed for bars and taverns across Indiana to allow them to serve until 3 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. The prior rule had stated all bars were to stop serving alcohol at 12:30 a.m.
