INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers could begin purchasing carryout alcohol on Sunday for the first time in state history on March 4, barring any unexpected developments at the Statehouse.

That date is not certain, but it does seem likely after the the Indiana House voted 82-10 on Tuesday to end the state’s unpopular ban on Sunday take-out alcohol sales.

The measure still requires one more vote in the Senate, but it is largely procedural since the Senate already passed an almost identical version. It would then go to Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has said he plans to sign it into law.

That puts the bill on pace to be signed into law as early as next week, and because it was recently amended to take effect upon passage, Hoosiers could purchase alcohol the following Sunday, March 4.

Grocery, drug and convenience stores that currently sell alcohol on the other six days of the week will have to make virtually no changes since they are already fully staffed on Sundays, said Grant Monahan, executive director of the Indiana Retail Council.

“If stores have barriers blocking those aisles on Sunday, they will be gone,” he said.

But liquor stores — which are now closed on Sundays — are rushing to ramp up their operations after the unexpected change last week to the measure’s effective date, which had previously been July 1.

“Obviously it’s an issue of staffing and it’s coming sooner than expected, so we’ll have to scramble,” said Jon Sinder, co-owner of Crown Liquors and president of the Indiana Association of Beverage retailers.

Source: IndyStar