Walgreen stores have temporarily postponed their quest for new alcohol-sales permits in Indianapolis.

The Illinois-based drugstore chain, doing an about-face comes amid heightened competition with drugstore rival CVS Caremark Corp., has requested the right to sell wine and beer in at least 53 stores in Central Indiana, according to state records.

Twenty-nine of those are in Marion County at a hearing of the Marion County panel that decides on cases for the Alcohol Tobacco Commission.

Walgreen officials were not in attendance, but requested that first batch of 10 up for debate — eight in Indianapolis, one in Beech Grove and one in Lawrence — be moved to give the company more time to prepare an affidavit.

The eight set for Indianapolis will be heard April 19. Hearings for Beech Grove and Lawrence locations are moved to May 3.

The remaining 19, all in Marion County, are scheduled for March 15.

Nancy Beals, who represents Drug Free Marion County, attended this morning’s hearing. She said she was glad to have more time to notify neighborhood groups about the impact of Walgreen stores selling beer and wine.

While the group is not opposed to all the license requests, she said specific Walgreen applications like in Irvington are potential trouble spots.

“It’s important to take the temperature of the neighborhood,” added Jeff Bennett, trustee of Warren Township, who attended the hearing and said he had concerns over that same Irvington corridor because a school is nearby. “We haven’t had time to do that.”