INDIANAPOLIS (February 7, 2024) – The Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (“ATC”) would like to provide a few reminders to ensure compliance with Indiana’s alcoholic beverage laws and regulations during the upcoming 2024 NBA All-Star Game and related events being hosted on February 16^th–18^th, 2024 in Indianapolis.  

• LEGAL SERVICE HOURS 

• • Please be mindful of the legal hours for alcoholic beverage sales listed below. No retail sales of alcoholic beverages are permitted after 3:00 a.m. local prevailing time, and all alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises must be removed by no later than 3:30 a.m.

• CARRYOUT SALES 

• • If a retailer permittee has carry-out privileges, the alcoholic beverages for carryout must be unopened and in original containers.

• EMPLOYEE PERMITS AND TRAINING 

• • All persons dispensing, serving, handling, and/or accepting payment for alcoholic beverages at a retailer permittee or a package liquor store must hold a valid employee permit issued by the ATC.
  • All employees and managing owners must take server training and keep a copy of the certificate with them while they are serving or selling alcoholic beverages.
  • All retailer permittees and package liquor stores must maintain a copy of server training certificates and employee permits for each employee dispensing, handling, serving, selling, and/or accepting payment for alcoholic beverages.
  • Questions concerning employee alcohol permits for servers and bartenders should be directed to Dianna Cardenas (dcardenas@atc.in.gov).
  • Questions concerning temporary employee permits should be directed to Michelle Washington (dist6@atc.in.gov).

• MINORS 

• • Minors are prohibited in taverns, bars, and other rooms containing a bar over which alcoholic beverages are sold or dispensed by the drink to consumers.
    • Exception—Minors may sit at a table in the barroom area of a retail premises with limited separation if they are accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or other family member over the age of twenty-one (21) for the purpose of consuming food prepared on the licensed premises.
  • Ensure minors that hold restricted employee permits are not acting as a bartender and are not serving in barroom areas.

• SUPPLEMENTAL CATERING REQUESTS 

• • Catering authority request forms must be submitted no later than February 15, 2024, in order to ensure timely processing.
  • No carry-in or carryout of alcoholic beverages is permitted.

• TEMPORARY BEER & WINE PERMITS 

• • Application must be submitted online at least five (5) business days prior to the event. Local authorization form (with signatures) required.
  • No carry-in or carryout of alcoholic beverages is permitted.
  • Questions about obtaining temporary beer and wine permits should be directed to Michelle Washington (dist6@atc.in.gov).

• ADVERTISING

• • A primary source of supply, wholesaler, or salesman of alcoholic beverages may place and display temporary banners or pennants advertising alcoholic beverages by brand name on or within two hundred (200) feet of a retailer or dealer premises beginning twenty-one (21) days before the sporting event, festival, or holiday and ending five (5) days after the close of the sporting event, festival, or holiday if the banners or pennants commemorate a sporting event, festival, or holiday held in Indiana.
    • Exception—No primary source of supply, wholesaler, salesman, or the holder of a retailer’s or dealer’s permit to sell alcoholic beverages may place or display any sign advertising alcoholic beverages within two hundred (200) feet of a church or school.
  • A sign advertising an alcoholic beverage by brand name may not indicate by arrows, hands, or other similar devices a particular retailer or dealer premises.

• PUBLIC SAFETY

Extra Safety Precautions

• • Take extra steps to prevent public nuisance issues such as fights, crimes involving weapons, drug use and/or sales, and nudity.
  • Employ additional security measures and hire additional staff. Ensure adequate staffing, including door persons to check IDs, prevent carry-out violations, and prevent overcapacity.
  • Use metal detectors or wands and conduct purse checks and pat down procedures to prevent weapons inside of business.
  • Ensure compliance with fire department, health department, and code enforcement requirements.
  • Maintain control of the licensed premises and its operations. Do not allow a promoter or other third party to take over the permit location or your business. Only disclosed owners and/or managers may manage or run the operations of a permitted premises. 
  • Call 911 if an incident occurs to prevent the incident from escalating further.

Free or Discounted Rides to Consumers

• • Under IC 7.1-5-5-13, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailer permittees may provide directly to consumers free or discounted rides through taxicabs, transportation network companies (as defined in IC 8-2.1-17-18), or other ride services for the purpose of furthering public safety.
  • Free or discounted rides may be provided to consumers by vouchers, codes, or any other method to deliver the free or discounted ride and may not be conditioned upon the purchase of an alcoholic beverage.

• OTHER REMINDERS 

• • Do not alter the floorplan of a licensed premises without prior approval from the ATC. Any alterations to a previously approved floor plan without prior authorization or approval may result in a notice of violation being issued to a permittee.
  • Ensure appropriate amount of inventory by placing orders with distributors early. Do not engage in retail-to-retail sales.
  • Permittees are only permitted to operate within the scope of their approved permit. Holders of beer and wine permits shall not sell or furnish liquor. Holders of catering hall permits shall not hold events open to the public.