Alcohol regulations in Indiana

Licences needed

Federal TTB Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) Basic Permit, Indiana ATC Distiller's Permit or Artisan Distiller's Permit, Indiana Department of Revenue Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (for retail/tasting rooms), and local zoning/building authorizations.

Authority

Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) and the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

Documents

ATC Application for Alcoholic Beverage Permit, federal TTB permit copy, Articles of Organization/Incorporation (INBiz), premises floor plan distinguishing bonded/retail areas, property deed or lease, surety bond, background investigation records, and proof of at least $500,000 liquor liability insurance.

Fees

Distiller's Permit: $2,000 annually. Artisan Distiller's Permit: $250 annually (billed as $500 for a 2-year permit term). Rectifier's Permit: $2,000 annually. Required surety bond: $10,000 for distillers, $15,000 for rectifiers.

Time to obtain

Approximately 60 to 90 days after local alcoholic beverage board review and hearing, provided federal TTB approval is already active.

Who can import

Federally licensed US importers and out-of-state distillers holding an Indiana Primary Source of Supply Registration may ship spirits into Indiana, but products may only be sold and consigned to licensed Indiana Liquor Wholesalers.

Licences or registrations

Primary Source of Supply Registration (for out-of-state suppliers/importers, IC 7.1-4-4.1-1); Liquor Wholesaler's Permit (for Indiana in-state importers/distributors, IC 7.1-3-8); Salesman's Permit for brand commercial representatives.

Authority

Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC).

Documents

Primary Source application (filed online via Access Indiana / MyLicense One), copy of federal TTB basic importer/distiller permit, list of designated Indiana licensed wholesalers, brand product schedule, and non-resident salesman surety bond ($500) if applicable.

Fees

Primary Source of Supply Registration: $0 (statutorily free under IC 7.1-4-4.1-1). Liquor Wholesaler Permit: $4,000 for two years ($2,000/year). Salesman Permit: $20 for two years.

Time to obtain

Approximately 30 to 45 days.

Required

no

Process

Indiana does not require an independent state-level label registration filing or label certificate. Under 905 IAC 1-23-1, labels approved by the federal TTB (COLA) are automatically accepted. Registered primary sources of supply must submit their brand schedules and make COLA approvals and labels available to the ATC upon request before shipping into the state.

Authority

Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) and federal TTB.

Documents and samples

Federal TTB Certificate of Label Approval (COLA, Form 5100.31) and copies of container labels upon request. Physical product samples are not required.

Fees

$0 (no state label registration fees).

Renewal

No separate label renewal required; maintained concurrently with brand supplier registration updates.

Time to obtain

Immediate upon federal COLA issuance and brand listing submission.

Indiana strictly enforces a three-tier distribution system. Out-of-state and international spirits must be consigned directly to licensed Indiana liquor wholesalers. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping of distilled spirits from outside the state is strictly prohibited. Indiana does not operate an alcohol import monopoly and has repealed physical excise tax stamps/strip stamps (compliance is tracked via monthly electronic primary source and wholesaler reporting to the Indiana Department of Revenue). International shipments must be imported via a federally licensed US Importer of Record and accompanied standard customs invoices and transport manifests.

Import customs duties are levied exclusively at the federal level by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under Chapter 2208 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the US (ranging from duty-free to rates such as $0.05 to $0.25+ per proof liter depending on the spirit type and country of origin). The State of Indiana does not assess customs duties.

Indiana state liquor excise tax is $2.68 per gallon on spirits and wine with 21% ABV or more (IC 7.1-4-3-1), collected and remitted to the Indiana Department of Revenue. Spirit-based mixed beverages (RTDs containing 15% ABV or less) are taxed at $0.47 per gallon. Standard Indiana state sales tax of 7% applies at retail. Federal excise tax also applies ($2.70 to $13.50 per proof gallon).

Private retail system (no state monopoly). Spirits are sold off-premise by licensed package liquor stores, grocery stores, and pharmacies; retail package permits are subject to statutory population quota caps (IC 7.1-3-22-3). On-premise sales occur at licensed restaurants and bars. Permitted hours: Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM; Sundays carryout/retail permitted from 12:00 PM (noon) to 8:00 PM; on-premise bars/restaurants may serve on Sundays from 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM.

Banned for interstate direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping of spirits. Intra-state retail delivery of sealed bottles is allowed by licensed package stores and dealer permittees under specific dealer delivery privileges. Restaurants and bars holding qualified permits may sell sealed cocktails to-go for carryout on premises under HEA 1086.

Must adhere strictly to federal TTB standards (27 CFR Part 5) in the English language: brand name, class/type, alcohol content (ABV), net quantity, bottler/importer name and address, country of origin, and the statutory federal health warning statement ('GOVERNMENT WARNING:...'). No Indiana-specific state excise tax stamp or warning is required.

Advertising must comply with 905 IAC and Indiana tied-house laws. Producers and wholesalers are prohibited from providing illegal inducements, free equipment, or cooperative advertising subsidies to retailers. Alcohol advertising may not target minors or depict intoxication. Happy hour drink discount promotions, previously banned since 1985, are permitted under HEA 1086 for up to 4 hours per day and 15 hours per week (prohibited between 9:00 PM and 3:00 AM; fixed-price unlimited/bottomless drink specials remain illegal).

Indiana adopts federal standards of identity set forth in 27 CFR Part 5. Indiana Code § 7.1-1-3-21 defines 'liquor' as any alcoholic beverage containing more than 21% alcohol by volume, and spirits classifications (whisky, vodka, gin, rum, brandy) must meet the standard 40% ABV (80 proof) federal threshold where prescribed.

There are no completely dry counties in Indiana. However, alcohol sales are restricted through statutory municipal and township quota caps on retail permits (IC 7.1-3-22), and permits may be denied or blocked via statutory neighborhood remonstrance during county local alcoholic beverage board hearings.

• House Enrolled Act 1086 (effective July 1, 2024) repealed Indiana's 1985 ban on 'happy hour' drink specials, allowing time-limited discounts up to 4 hours per day and 15 hours per week, while legalizing carryout of sealed cocktails to-go from bars and restaurants.
• HEA 1086 mandated that on-premise retailers and craft manufacturers maintain a minimum of $500,000 in liquor liability insurance coverage, with full compliance enforced by January 1, 2025.
• HEA 1025 (effective July 1, 2024) authorized wine wholesalers to distribute spirit-based ready-to-drink (RTD) mixed beverages.
• Effective July 1, 2025, the statutory annual production limit for Indiana Artisan Distiller permittees was expanded from 20,000 gallons to 30,000 gallons, along with expanded self-distribution allowances.
• The Indiana ATC transitioned all Primary Source of Supply registrations to the digital Access Indiana MyLicense One portal.

Foreign spirits exporters can enter Indiana by partnering with a federally licensed US importer and contracting with an Indiana-licensed liquor wholesaler. Market access is simplified by Indiana's zero-dollar primary source registration fee and absence of state-level label approval charges, though producers cannot utilize direct-to-consumer shipping.

• Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC)
• Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) - Special Tax Division
• Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) [Federal]

1. Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission - Fee Schedule & Permit Types
2. Indiana Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage Excise Tax
3. Indiana Code Title 7.1 - Alcohol and Tobacco
4. Indiana General Assembly - HEA 1086 & HEA 1025 Updates
5. Wine Institute - Indiana Supplier and Wholesale Regulations