Indiana Excise Law (Club)
GUIDELINES FOR CLUB PERMIT HOLDERS
The following are guidelines that will assist you in the operation of club facilities. If there are any
questions about the following guidelines or anything not covered, please contact your Excise
Police District office.
District office information can be found at: http://www.in.gov/atc/isep/2379.htm.
Lawful Sale Times. Alcoholic beverages can be sold every day of the year from 7:00 a.m. to
3:00 a.m.
Sunday openings. Clubs can dispense alcoholic beverages every Sunday of the year 7:00
a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Minors. Minors are allowed to loiter anywhere in the club to include the barroom area (I.C. 7.1-
5-7-11). The only exception is a room designated as the Smoking Room under the Indiana
Smoke Free Law in which case the minimum age to be in the room is 18 years old.
Guest Nights. (7.1-3-20-8.6) Effective May, 2017 club permit holders may designate one (1) or
more days each calendar month as guest days, not to exceed a total of seven (7) guest days in
any calendar month. These requests need to be submitted to the district office in writing: 1)
email dist2@atc.in.gov; or 2) fax to 260-244-3830.
Non-members. The following is a list of what non-members can and can not do in your club.
1. Non- members may not purchase alcoholic beverages in a club unless the club has a Guest
Day Permit.
2. Club members may purchase alcoholic beverages for their non-member guests if the
guests have signed the clubs “guest book”. The “guest book” must include the member’s
name and the name of the non-member guest (I.C. 7.1-3-20-8.6). The ratio of member to
guest should be 1:1 or 1:2. If the member leaves and the guest stays, the guest may not
purchase any alcoholic beverages.
3. Non-members may purchase any non-alcoholic beverage or food at anytime.
4. Clubs may be “open to the public” for any form of non-alcoholic beverages or food at
anytime. Non-members may participate in any event that may be taking place in the club.
Bar facilities. A club can not rent or lease their “bar facilities” to an outside group or group of
persons. This includes the barroom area of the club, but does not include a room that has been
legally leased or rented (905 I.A.C. 1-13-5).
Room rental. The following is a guideline on renting rooms in your club.
1. Clubs may rent rooms to members and non-members for events.
2. Clubs may not sell or provide alcoholic beverages to non-members who have rented rooms.
3. Non-members may bring alcoholic beverages into a room that they have rented under the
following conditions:
A. Non-members must have a temporary beer and wine permit issued by the Alcohol and
Tobacco Commission or have a bona fide alcoholic beverage caterer with a catering
authority issued by the excise district office to hold an open to the public or “private
events” where alcoholic beverages are being dispensed.
B. Non-members are not required to have permits if no alcoholic beverages are to be
dispensed.
Revised 01/22/2024
4. Members are allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages from the club to be used in a room
that they have rented. The member then can give the alcoholic beverages to non-members.
This does not include open to the public events. Members can either purchase the alcoholic
beverages prior to the event or may “settle the bill” after the event is over.
5. Members cannot rent or lease the bar facility area from the club.
6. The member cannot use a bartender that is being paid by the club. The member may hire a
club bartender if the member personally pays the bartender.
Alcohol & Charity Gaming. Effective July 1, 2015 a qualified organization (as defined by I.C.
4-32.2-2-24) at an allowable event (as defined by 4-32.2-2-2) may give away as a prize or
auction alcoholic beverages (I.C. 7.1-3-6.1and I.C. 7.1-3-6.2).
1. Alcohol given to a qualified organization as a gaming prize or auction item must be in sealed
bottles or cases and provided for off premise consumption only.
2. All proceeds of alcohol sold at auction must go to the charity or must be used to support the
institutional activities of the qualified organization.
3. The winner must be present to win.
4. The alcohol must be given by the organization’s designated individual who must be at least
21 years of age.
5. The designated person must comply with I.C. 7.1-5-10-15 Sales to intoxicated persons and
I.C. 7.1-5-10-23 check the identification of a person who reasonably appears to be under the
age of 40 years old.
Gaming. A fraternal club’s gaming licenses/permits are governed by the Charity Gaming
Division of Indiana Gaming Commission. Information can be found here:
https://www.in.gov/igc/charity-gaming/ ; Email: CharityGaming@igc.in.gov ; Telephone: (317)
232-4646
Clubs are encouraged to implement reasonable or definitive house rules regarding alcoholic
beverages.
Any forms the club may need can be found at the ATC website: www.in.gov/atc.
