A while back, Indiana joined most of the country and started using Daylight Savings Time. It was difficult for life-long Hoosier and I understood their frustration. For me it was a bit of a relief as I hated the great world I interacted with never knowing what time it was for me. Conference calls were like a Abbot and Costello skit and when I flew to the east coast during the change it became a whole other thing. It has been 12 years, almost a generation has grown up with it, but I still hear complaints. Now I don't like DST but for some it is just that they don't think Indiana should do it. Wait until they hear there is a move to put us on Central time.
Well, Indiana joined a majority of the country again this week by enacting Sunday alcohol sales in package (liquor) stores and retailers in general with licenses like grocery stores and big box stores. This is the first of what will likely be many battles over alcohol policy in Indiana. What is interesting is that this was the easiest to enact and while a major shift in policy is not going to have very much of an effect in most people's lives. It will allow me to buy wine and liquor on my normal Sunday Costco runs so that is helpful to me. This is to say the least more convenient for consumers and frankly more beneficial to grocery stores who were losing Sunday business to breweries and some restaurants who could sell packaged beer on Sundays already. But some are upset.
So bring on the comment section. One person wrote " Well Gov. You should be proud! The ONE day you could get out and drive without having to worry about DRUNKS and YOU RUINED IT! GLAD I DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOU!" on a facebook post. The caps are hers. What is interesting is that buying alcohol in a store would make it less likely for someone to drive drunk. Before the passing of the law if someone wanted to drink while watching say, a football game or a NASCAR race, and they didn't have any at home, they would go to a bar. That might lead to 4 hours of drinking and watching. Then drive home. But now, they can run to a local retailer and go home and watch. Simple and safer. But don't tell the person on facebook who thinks people will be downing shots in Kroger I imagine.
Others who seem to not think before they post said that no one needs to buy alcohol on Sunday if they are too stupid to remember to get it a day earlier. What if we looked at other things like that? We would be outraged to find that things we want or need could be limited to purchase on certain days. No toilet paper Wednesday, no meat on Monday. How does that make sense? What is the point? Should I have to stock up? What does that even mean?
Others have suggested that Sunday sales will create more alcoholics. I wish I knew how that math worked. It is an insult to people struggling with the disease and insults the intelligence of everyone who reads it.
None of these comments are consequential and frankly they will mean very little in the grand scheme of things but it is a trend that is disturbing. The comment session was used by Russia to spread disinformation in our last election. Today it has become a fertile ground for antisemitism, racism and white supremacy as well as continued attacks on individuals with lies or out-of-context quotes. The latter comes from the right and the left. Unlike social media, the comment section of publications can easily be monitored for facts and appropriate responses. If only they would be. So take everything with a grain of salt, and remember you have access to the best information analysis in your own brain, take the time to use it before you comment.
Well, Indiana joined a majority of the country again this week by enacting Sunday alcohol sales in package (liquor) stores and retailers in general with licenses like grocery stores and big box stores. This is the first of what will likely be many battles over alcohol policy in Indiana. What is interesting is that this was the easiest to enact and while a major shift in policy is not going to have very much of an effect in most people's lives. It will allow me to buy wine and liquor on my normal Sunday Costco runs so that is helpful to me. This is to say the least more convenient for consumers and frankly more beneficial to grocery stores who were losing Sunday business to breweries and some restaurants who could sell packaged beer on Sundays already. But some are upset.
So bring on the comment section. One person wrote " Well Gov. You should be proud! The ONE day you could get out and drive without having to worry about DRUNKS and YOU RUINED IT! GLAD I DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOU!" on a facebook post. The caps are hers. What is interesting is that buying alcohol in a store would make it less likely for someone to drive drunk. Before the passing of the law if someone wanted to drink while watching say, a football game or a NASCAR race, and they didn't have any at home, they would go to a bar. That might lead to 4 hours of drinking and watching. Then drive home. But now, they can run to a local retailer and go home and watch. Simple and safer. But don't tell the person on facebook who thinks people will be downing shots in Kroger I imagine.
Others who seem to not think before they post said that no one needs to buy alcohol on Sunday if they are too stupid to remember to get it a day earlier. What if we looked at other things like that? We would be outraged to find that things we want or need could be limited to purchase on certain days. No toilet paper Wednesday, no meat on Monday. How does that make sense? What is the point? Should I have to stock up? What does that even mean?
Others have suggested that Sunday sales will create more alcoholics. I wish I knew how that math worked. It is an insult to people struggling with the disease and insults the intelligence of everyone who reads it.
None of these comments are consequential and frankly they will mean very little in the grand scheme of things but it is a trend that is disturbing. The comment session was used by Russia to spread disinformation in our last election. Today it has become a fertile ground for antisemitism, racism and white supremacy as well as continued attacks on individuals with lies or out-of-context quotes. The latter comes from the right and the left. Unlike social media, the comment section of publications can easily be monitored for facts and appropriate responses. If only they would be. So take everything with a grain of salt, and remember you have access to the best information analysis in your own brain, take the time to use it before you comment.
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