cold beer sales

Lifting the ban on Sunday sales signals the end of an era in Indiana. But, there's another decades-old alcohol law where the state is still a holdout: cold beer sales.

House Speaker Brian Bosma says he hopes to legalize Sunday alcohol sales this year - and then deal with other issues, like cold beer, in the future.

A Senate committee overwhelmingly rejected a bill to expand cold beer sales after hours of testimony from groups on both sides of the debate.

The cold beer measure faces an uphill battle against entrenched interests. The Sunday sales bill has broader support.

The proposal would have recommended allowing cold beer sales in more businesses, like convenience stores.

She says she was happy to hear the groups make their positions clear. But she says she felt it was jumping the gun a bit.

The industries are also opposing the legalization of cold beer sales in convenience stores.

In a random sample of 600 Hoosiers, 58 percent say they support carryout sales of liquor on Sundays.

Three major industries - convenience stores, liquor stores and big box retailers - all have a stake in potential legislation.

Supporters of the change say it would allow convenience store owners to adapt to a changing market.