Booze, Betting Hot Issues Among Lawmakers

INDIANAPOLIS -- Booze and betting will be the hot button issues for Indiana lawmakers this summer.

Legislative leaders on Monday approved two major studies of the alcoholic beverage and gaming industries, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

The major issues involving alcohol involves Sunday sales. Retailers are pushing hard for the ability to sell booze seven days a week. But liquor stores, bars and restaurants remain firmly opposed to the idea.

"I do think it's important for us to keep the consumer in mind in all of our decisions and try to be fair in looking at the way things are sold today and does it make sense," said Republican Sen. David Long.

Lawmakers will weigh the issue of selling alcohol in a modern environment versus long-standing religious objections to Sunday alcohol sales.

The retailers' group, Hoosiers for Beverage Choice, ran a campaign earlier this month that asked customers at more than 1,000 retail outlets to sign a petition supporting Sunday alcohol sales.

Kroger, Marsh and Jewel supermarkets took part in the push, along with several convenience store chains.

"Consumers shop on Sunday. It's the second-busiest day of the week when consumers are out shopping today," said Jay Ricker, who operates 42 convenience stores in Indiana. "A number of years ago we changed what I consider some of the antiquate blue laws that we had and we allowed restaurants to sell alcohol on Sunday."

Another committee will study several issues related to gambling, including a request from so-called racinos -- combination race tracks and casinos -- for tax breaks and the ability to offer table games.