Cheaper Than Gum Beer: Colbert

Project RAD first reported about cheap beer in a poor neighborhood with pricing of $2.99 per six-pack of beer, Big Flats 1901 is sold and heavily advertised at an Indianapolis Walgreens here in Marion County.

The price has dropped again locally, now selling at two six-packs for $5.

The brew that's hardly a household name - Big Flats 1901 - is now stocked in more than 4,600 of the chain's 7,655 U.S. locations. The label is produced by the Novato, California-based Winery Exchange, which also provides private-label alcohol for chains such as Costco Wholesale.

Stephen Colbert's popular "Tip of the Hat" segment was recently dedicated to the "cheaper than gum beer."

Indiana Appeals Court Hears Alcohol Permit Challenge

An appellate court's interpretation of how alcohol permit quota laws are applied in Indiana may come down to a single point of law: Does a state agency's practice of 38 years override the legislature's intent on setting up quotas to regulate the sale of alcohol in the state?

A three-judge appellate panel heard arguments Monday in a case brought by the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers (IABR). When a preliminary injunction was denied in a Marion County court against the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC), the state's package liquor stores appealed that decision to the higher court.

Citing economic harm to store owners across Indiana, the 500-member association claims that the ATC, which reviews and grants liquor permits, is doing so incorrectly.

That became apparent, lawyers argued, after a change to the statute in 2008. That year, the Indiana Legislature dramatically reduced the number of alcohol permits available based on new population quotas.

In at least two instances, IABR lawyers argued the ATC was granting permits that simply did not exist in Fort Wayne and also Columbus.

While there had been 138 beer dealer permits available in Fort Wayne prior to the 2008 change in law, that number dropped dramatically to just 35 available permits. At the time the lawsuit was filed, the state was already proceeding with 11 permits beyond that quota limit, according to the IABR attorney.

Appellate Judge Cale Bradford pointed out that "an incorrect interpretation (of law) can go on for a long time" before it's challenged.

The Indiana Retail Council, which represents groceries and drugstores and filed a motion to intervene in the case, also argued that if the state agency's interpretation is "reasonable or plausible," then there is no violation of law.

Indiana Facts Campaign

Kroger, a grocery giant based in Ohio with more than 2,000 stores nationwide, has been in the forefront of the "consumer" move for expanded alcohol sales in Indiana, and is relying on the same campaign it used in Dallas to influence legislative outcomes, including online petitions.

In Dallas, the group formerly known as "Progress Dallas" changed its name to "Keep the Dollars in Dallas," changing the brand and marketing of its campaign this summer.

Similar brand switching occurred in Indiana as "Hoosiers for Beverage Choices" changed its website to "ChangeitIndiana.org."

Bloomington Editorial: Leave Liquor Law Alone

"We asserted last year and we confirm again that any grumbling about having to show ID to buy alcohol is miniscule compared to the potential the law has to reduce under-age purchases.

And any attempt to define a cut-off age for carding based solely on appearance, whether it's 40, 50, or 60, is likely to be rife with problems and embarrassments.

Because appearances can be as diverse as individual clerks' judgments, it would be much simpler to require that everyone show an official and consistent form of identification and forget the "defense" language of the bill altogether.

In this age of heightened security and protection from identity theft, consumers have become accustomed to showing IDs at airports, rental car agencies, voting sites, department stores, pharmacies and even doctors' offices.

Producing a driver's license when making an alcohol purchase hardly seems to warrant the indignant outrage the stricter ID law seems to have shaken and stirred."

Source: Herald-Times, Jan. 29, Bloomington, Ind.

(The Indiana House voted 91-7 on Thursday for a bill to repeal the mandatory carding law.)

A Haircut and a Glass of Wine

Landed in our inbox this week with the subject header: Shampoo + Deep-Conditioning Treatment + Wine.

True offer.

Living Social Deals, an online coupon company, pushed out this offer Tuesday for a Carmel hair salon calling it a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious deal (no offense to Mary Poppins).

Though the wine can be exchanged for coffee, a copywriter called it "beauty medicine offered with a spoonful of sugar."

All for $25.

Alcohol Headlines in Indiana

Ind. House Approves Bill To Change Ridiculed Alcohol ID Law

Party Ends With Teens Facing Alcohol Charges

Errors Found In Indiana State Lab Toxicology Test

Alcohol Headlines Across the Nation

ALASKA

Anchorage Assembly is Asking Voters Whether Liquor Stores Ought to Check IDs for Every Sale
 

GEORGIA

Sunday Alcohol Sales One Step Closer To Becoming Law 
 

MICHIGAN

Michigan Liquor Control Commission Seeks Student Decoys

NORTH DAKOTA

ND Wine Makers May Sell Directly To Stores 
 

OKLAHOMA

Poll: Most Voters Against Expanding Alcohol Sales

VIRGINIA

Tea Party Groups Endorse Liquor Privatization

Take our RAD Poll

New poll question: Should members of local alcoholic beverage boards be required to file ethics disclosure forms?

Visit our homepage to weigh in by clicking here.

Previous poll question:

Sen. Phil Boots is proposing that minors be allowed in liquor stores with adults? Do you agree or disagree?

82 percent disagree

18 percent agree

Grants Available for Police-Community Partnerships

MetLife Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) are partnering for the 10^th year to recognize, sustain and share the work of innovative partnerships between community groups and police to promote neighborhood safety and revitalization.

Download the application:

2011 MetLife Foundation Preliminary Application (PDF, 264 KB)

The submission deadline for 2011 applications is Feb. 28.

Awardees will receive monetary grants ranging from $15,000 to $25,000.

Case studies about award-winning partnerships will be disseminated throughout the community development and law enforcement industries.

Cash grants will be awarded in the following two categories:

Neighborhood Revitalization Awards (Six at $15,000-25,000): These awards celebrate exemplary collaboration between community groups and police that yields crime reduction as well as economic development outcomes, such as real estate development, business attraction and job growth.

Special Strategy Awards (Five at $15,000): Community and police partners who have achieved significant accomplishments in one of the following areas will receive awards:

• Applied Technology
• Aesthetics and Greenspace Improvement
• Diversity Inclusion & Integration
• Drug Market Disruption
• Gang Prevention & Youth Safety
• Seniors & Safety