As owner of Broadway Liquors in downtown Chesterton, Mary Paulson is concerned about a statewide push to allow cold beer sales at grocery, drug and convenience stores.
"It's the one thing we have," she said. "It's the only thing we have."
The loss of this sole competitive edge, in conjunction with the potential of having to stay open seven days a week if the state approves another proposal to allow carry-out alcohol sales on Sundays, could deal a fatal blow to yet another round of mom-and-pop stores, Paulson said.
"Do we all just want to shop at Wal-Mart the rest of our lives?" she asked.
Grant Monahan, who serves as spokesman for The Alliance of Responsible Alcohol Retailers, which is pursuing the changes, said the proposals are all about saving consumers money and providing them with greater convenience.
Liquor stores typically charge more for cold beer, which is a practice he said would be discontinued if the sales are extended to other retailers.
That is currently the case for the local Strack & Van Til grocery chain, which sells cold beer for the same price as warm beer at its two Illinois locations, Buyer and Category Manager Mike Nisevich said.
He is told by brewers that more cold beer is sold at the stores than warm.
Monahan said lifting the carry-out ban on Sundays would serve customers by allowing them to pick up alcohol along with food during a single visit to a grocery store. He does not buy the argument that liquor store owners deserve the day off.
"I think that's a weak argument and a self-serving one," he said.
Nisevich said Strack & Van Til loses business on Sundays among customers who travel to nearby Illinois where carry-out alcohol sales are legal on that day.
Victor Solano, who owns DeKalb Street Liquors in Lake Station, said he believes the proposed change in the sale of cold beer will fuel the risk of underage drinking since there is no age limit to enter or work in a grocery, convenience or drug store.
Indiana State Excise Police announced last month an undercover investigation found liquor stores were nearly twice as likely to sell alcohol to underage consumers than grocery or drug stores.
Monahan hopes lawmakers will introduce the proposed changes when they wrap up a two-year study of alcohol beverage issues this summer.
In the meantime, consumers supporting the changes are invited to learn more and sign an online petition at beveragechoices.com.
