EDITORIAL: Time for ban on Sunday alcohol sales to be removed

We believe in a level playing field for businesses. The big push back against Sunday carryout sales is not coming from teetotalers, it's being voiced by liquor store owners who don't want to invest in retail sales on Sundays. Any law aimed at protecting one business at the expense of another is wrong - which is the same reason we support an overhaul requiring online retailers to collect sales tax just like a brick and mortar location.

If liquor stores still want to remain closed Sunday, they're welcome to do so and let the chips fall where they may. Many small businesses are closed on Sunday, and we don't have laws on the books prohibiting the sale of appliances or clothing to protect those mom and pop stores from big box competition.

And, though we appreciate the goals of those opposed to Sunday sales in hopes of curbing underage drinking, there are better approaches to that problem. For example, one law that was actually on the Indiana books before being repealed required ID for all alcohol purchases. To us, that seems a better path, because ID laws are a far better deterrent than prohibiting Sunday sales to responsible adults.

There is a place for the regulation of alcohol sales, but such laws need to make sense. Banning Sunday carryout sales no longer fits that criteria. It's time for Indiana to let go of the past and be fair to businesses and consumers.