Buying Beer In Kansas: Understanding The 10 Am Rule

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, with a long history of prohibition. The state prohibited the sale of alcohol from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. So, what are the laws around buying beer in Kansas today?

Beer can be bought in Kansas from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 11 pm

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state had a long era of prohibition, from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. Even today, Kansas has one dry county where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, though the sale of 3.2% beer is allowed.

The state's strict approach to alcohol regulation is a result of its history with the temperance movement. Kansas was the first state to enact a constitutional prohibition on alcohol, and it was a national centre of temperance activity. The movement was strengthened by the presence of Puritan immigrants, the perception of saloons as divisive to families, and its association with the abolitionist movement.

In recent years, there has been a gradual rollback of Prohibition-era liquor laws in Kansas. In 2019, the state allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell "full-strength" beer of up to 6% alcohol. In 2021, a bill was signed to allow the sale of beer and alcohol from 9 am on Sundays, ending a long-standing prohibition on Sunday morning sales.

While Kansas has loosened some of its alcohol regulations, there are still several restrictions in place. Retail liquor stores are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages from 9 am to 11 pm, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, beer can be bought at off-premise locations from 9 am to 8 pm. Additionally, alcohol sales are prohibited on certain holidays, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The specific regulations for beer sales may vary depending on the county and city in Kansas. For example, some counties have different rules regarding on-premise and off-premise sales, while others may have additional restrictions on Sunday sales. It's important to check the local laws and regulations for the specific area in Kansas.

Beer sales are prohibited on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. Beer sales are prohibited on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. This applies to all retailers, including grocery and convenience stores.

The state's strict approach to alcohol stems from its long era of prohibition, which lasted from 1881 to 1948—longer than any other state. Kansas was the first state to enact a constitutional prohibition on alcohol, and it did not ratify the Twenty-first Amendment, which ended nationwide prohibition, until 2017.

In recent years, Kansas has loosened some of its restrictions on alcohol sales. In 2019, the state allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell "full-strength" beer with up to 6% alcohol. In 2021, Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill allowing the sale of beer and alcohol to begin at 9 a.m. on Sundays, ending a prohibition on Sunday morning sales that dated back to the 1880s.

However, Kansas still maintains certain restrictions on alcohol sales, including the prohibition of beer and alcohol sales on major holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, in addition to Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. These laws vary by county, and some counties may have additional restrictions in place. For example, as of August 2023, Wallace County prohibits the sale of liquor by the drink, while other counties allow it with certain conditions, such as requiring that establishments derive a certain percentage of their sales from food.

Beer can be bought at bars and restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, and breweries or taprooms

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and its history with alcohol is a long and complex one. The state had a long era of prohibition, lasting from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987.

Today, beer can be purchased at various locations throughout Kansas, including bars and restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, and breweries or taprooms. However, the specific days and hours that beer can be sold vary depending on the type of establishment and the county.

For off-premise locations, such as grocery stores and gas stations, beer sales are permitted Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. On Sundays, off-premise locations can sell beer from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. These establishments can only sell beer with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 6% or lower.

On-premise locations, such as bars, restaurants, and breweries or taprooms, can sell beer from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. any day of the week. However, to sell beer, these establishments must have a license and derive 30% of their gross sales from food.

It is important to note that Kansas has dry counties where alcohol sales are prohibited, so it is always a good idea to check the local laws before purchasing beer in a particular county. Additionally, there are certain holidays, such as Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, on which alcohol sales are not permitted.

Kansas has one dry county where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, which are a legacy of its long history of prohibition. The state prohibited the sale of alcohol from 1881 to 1948, and continued to ban on-premises liquor sales until 1987. Even today, Kansas has not ratified the Twenty-first Amendment, which ended prohibition across the United States in 1933.

Kansas's alcohol laws are enforced by the Kansas Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Alcohol sales are prohibited on certain holidays, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Sales are also banned between 11:00 PM and 9:00 AM, and cities and counties that allow off-premises sales must stop selling alcohol after 8:00 PM.

As of March 2023, Kansas has one dry county, Wallace County, where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited. However, the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted. This makes it the last remaining dry county in Kansas, as the other counties have approved the 1986 amendment to the Kansas Constitution, which allowed the sale of liquor by the drink.

The minimum drinking age in Kansas is 21

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state had a long era of prohibition, lasting from 1881 to 1948, and continuing to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. The minimum drinking age in Kansas is 21.

Kansas's strict and highly regulated approach to alcohol is a result of its long history of prohibition. The state was the first in the country to write prohibition into its constitution in the 1880s. This was influenced by the temperance movement, which was particularly strong in Kansas at the time, as well as the state's religious and progressive political leanings. While the nationwide prohibition ended in 1933, Kansas continued to prohibit the sale of liquor by the drink in public places until 1987.

Even today, Kansas has strict laws regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol. The sale of alcohol is prohibited on certain holidays, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Retailers can sell alcohol between 9 am and 11 pm, and local counties that sell alcohol on Sundays are not allowed to do so after 8 pm. The state also has dry counties, where the sale of alcohol is completely prohibited.

While the minimum drinking age in Kansas is 21, there is an exception for minors who are supervised and given alcohol by their parents. However, drinking laws in Kansas are stricter compared to some other states, and there are consequences for violating these laws, especially for those who are underage.

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