Indiana C-stores Lose Appeal of Cold Beer Law

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana residents will continue to be unable to purchase cold beer at convenience stores and grocery stores.

According to TheIndyChannel.com, the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday to uphold a mid-2014 ruling prohibiting c-stores from selling cold beer.

The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (IPCA) unsuccessfully argued on federal and state levels that if c-stores can sell other alcoholic products cold, why not beer? For example, Indiana c-stores can currently sell wine cold.

"Our members and the public understand Indiana's alcohol laws lack common sense, and we are asking the state and federal courts to put an end to this," IPCA Executive Director Scot Imus said when filing the appeal in 2014. "It is clear the monopoly liquor stores have limits consumer choice and hurts the growth of our state's economy."

However, the court determined the argument is not sufficient under rational-basis review. It also stated the argument should have been taken up in the General Assembly, not a courtroom.

The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers applauded the judge’s decision. “Indiana, like many other states, have public policy goals to limit and control the distribution of alcohol,” the trade group said in a statement. “To accomplish this goal, many states have reasonable restrictions on the sale of alcohol and Indiana is no different.”

The IPCA has not yet issued a statement following the Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision.