12/03/2025
INDIANA LICENSED BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION TO CESE OPERATIONS AFTER 92 YEARS
This coming Friday, December 5th marks the 92nd anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment, known as Repeal Day, bringing an end to Prohibition. That day will also be known as the official closing date of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association (ILBA).
The Indiana Licensed Beverage Association was founded in 1933 and has been the industry leader in advocacy for bars & taverns in Indiana. Made up predominantly of independent neighborhood “Mom & Pop” establishments, the ILBA was successful in passing such initiatives as legalizing alcohol sales on Election Day & Christmas Day, consistent operating hours 7 days a week, and legalizing pull tabs in bars.
According to past association President Brad Klopfenstein, “This is a sad day for the small neighborhood tavern. These are places where people gather with friends and family to celebrate engagements, promotions, and birthdays, and they are also places where you go to catch up with old friends or mourn the passing of a loved one. They are part of the fabric of our neighborhoods and provide a unique sense of place. While these places will still exist, the reality is that the landscape for the neighborhood bar is changing rapidly. There is increased competition from breweries & distilleries, chain restaurants, strict zoning regulations have resulted in fewer walkable taverns, and people are simply drinking less.
“We have been fighting shrinking membership for 35 years. There are fewer independent bars, and the average age of the owners of those bars has increased dramatically in that time. The Association has felt the effects of what our members have been experiencing – more competition, smaller margins, increased costs, and a generational lack of support for membership-based organizations as a whole. Unfortunately, the time has come where we no longer have the resources and volunteers necessary to continue our operations.”
The ILBA would like to encourage the public to make a conscious decision to patronize your local bar and tavern this holiday season.
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