Indiana lawmakers are considering doing away with a requirement that small wineries and breweries have barriers separating children from the area where alcohol is served. Senate Bill 358 passed in the Senate 39-11, and is now awaiting a vote in the house.
The bill would allow small wineries and breweries to welcome all customers, including families with minors. There are more than 100 businesses in Indiana that would be impacted.
David Schrodt, president of Brown County Winery, started his business in 1985. Schrodt says state officials started enforcing a law last year that requires small wineries to put up barriers at the tasting bars that don't allow minors to be near the counters.
Schrodt says enforcement of the law is hurting business and he's hopeful legislators will take action.
"It hasn't been good and if we can't get the fix in the legislative fix in this session, ATC has told us it's going to be 21 and only, period.. put up a sign on the door," he says.
Schrodt says, a "small" winery is defined as a farm winery, which means the winery produces around 500,000 to one million gallons of wine a year.