The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (IPCA), is prepared to challenge Indiana’s outdated law governing the sale of cold beer in court during a two day trial beginning Thursday, February 20 at 1p.

The issue will be heard by Chief Judge Richard L. Young, United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

IPCA and its members’ filed a complaint in U.S. District Court  in May 2013 that claims Indiana’s alcohol law violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by restricting convenience, grocery and pharmacy stores to selling beer only at room temperature. Under current law, these stores are only allowed to sell beer warm, while their competitors in the carryout market are allowed to sell beer cold even though convenience stores have a better compliance record with Indiana’s alcohol laws.

“Now is the time for common sense to be applied to Indiana’s alcohol laws, which are irrational, discriminatory and outdated,” said IPCA Executive Director Scot Imus. “We look forward to presenting our case in court as it is not the job of government to pick winners and losers in the marketplace.”

The hearing will last two days with the judge taking the matter under advisement and issuing a ruling at a later date.

Police officers arrested 65 people for underage drinking at a party on the northwest side of Evansville Saturday night.

Evansville/Vanderburgh County Central Dispatch received several calls about a large underage drinking party and numerous vehicles parked in the roadway in 2700 block of Allens Lane in Evansville.

At midnight Sunday morning, officers from the Indiana State Excise Police, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police, investigated these citizen complaints and found 65 minors who had been consuming alcoholic beverages inside a house and garage.

All but one of those found to have been drinking alcohol were issued summonses to appear in Vanderburgh Misdemeanor Court. One 19-year-old man was jailed on preliminary charges of illegal consumption of alcohol and resisting law enforcement.

Two of those cited for underage drinking were residents.

Four of the 65 minors were less than 18 years of age. They were all ticketed and released to parents.

As the enforcement division of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, the primary mission of the Indiana State Excise Police is to promote public safety by enforcing Indiana’s Alcoholic Beverage Code. While excise officers have the authority to enforce any state law, they focus primarily on alcohol, tobacco and related laws.

Excise Officers Arrest 38 at Concerts

Indiana State Excise Police officers arrested 38 people at concerts in Indianapolis and Evansville, Ind., this weekend.

On Friday night, excise officers arrested 14 people on 16 charges at the Florida Georgia Line concert at the Ford Center in Evansville. Ten minors – including one less than 18 years of age – were preliminarily charged with underage possession or consumption of alcohol.

Two adults were cited for providing alcohol to minors and one person was jailed on preliminarily charges of resisting law enforcement, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

On Saturday night, excise officers arrested 24 people at a concert at Bankers Life Fieldhouse featuring Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and Brantley Gilbert. Nineteen minors – including one less than 18 years of age – were preliminarily charged with underage possession or consumption of alcohol. Two of them were also cited for possession of false IDs and one for being in a bar room.

Five people were cited for providing alcohol to minors and one person was issued a warning for carrying alcohol into the Fieldhouse.

Banker’s Life Fieldhouse was also cited on a preliminary charge of sale of alcohol to a minor after officers observed a bartender serve alcohol to a 19-year-old man without checking any identification.

As the enforcement division of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, the primary mission of the Indiana State Excise Police is to promote public safety by enforcing Indiana’s Alcoholic Beverage Code. While excise officers have the authority to enforce any state law, they focus primarily on alcohol, tobacco and related laws.