Indiana Alcohol Related Laws and Regulations

Where to Buy Alcohol
On Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., alcohol is served in restaurants and bars. On Sundays, alcohol is served from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Alcohol is not sold on Christmas Day and Election Day.

Private retail package stories sell alcoholic beverages, and grocery, convenience, and drug stores sell beer and wine.

Legal Age for Drinking/Serving Alcohol
21 years old is the legal drinking age and the age required to work as a bartender in Indiana, but working as a server in a restaurant is legal at age 19. At 18, a worker may work at a store that sells alcohol as long as a supervisor is present. Any alcoholic beverage server is required to attend alcohol training classes.

Open Container Laws
Previously opened alcohol bottles must be transported in the car’s trunk, as no one in a vehicle may have an open container of alcohol in their possession.

BAC Limits
If a driver has a BAC (blood-alcohol content) of .08 percent, they are at the maximum legal limit for intoxication. If the BAC is higher than that, this indicates ‘per se intoxication,’ and proof through chemical testing could convict the driver of DUI (driving under the influence) based on this evidence alone.

The ‘zero tolerance laws’ in place discourage underage drivers from drinking, stating that a driver under the legal age of 21 who tests positive with a BAC of .02 percent or higher is subject to DUI penalties.

If a driver refuses to cooperate with chemical testing (implied consent laws) or is convicted with a BAC of .15 percent above the .08 percent legal limit can suffer more severe penalties.

Penalties
A penalty of a suspended driver’s license is available to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). This could result as a suspension of 180 days for the first, second, and third offenses.

In Indiana, a driver’s vehicle is eligible for confiscation for a DUI conviction – either permanently or temporarily – usually for repeat offenders.

One penalty in Indiana includes an ignition interlock device, but alcohol education or treatment is not required.

After the second conviction, DUI is considered a felony.