Oisin Foster
Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and the state's approach to alcohol is heavily influenced by its long history of prohibition. While Kansas is not a dry state, it does have dry counties where alcohol sales are prohibited. The state's complex alcohol regulations vary by county and city, and they dictate where and when beer and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased. With the holiday season approaching, it's important to understand these regulations, especially when it comes to buying beer at shops on holidays.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Beer sales on Sundays | Off-premise locations: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| On-premise locations: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. | |
| Beer sales on other days | Off-premise locations: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. |
| On-premise locations: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. | |
| Beer sales on holidays | No sales on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas |
| Beer sales in grocery stores | Yes, but ABV must be 6% or lower |
| Beer sales in gas stations | Yes, but ABV must be 6% or lower |
| Beer sales in liquor stores | Yes, but only in original packaging |
| Beer sales in breweries and taprooms | Yes, but 30% of gross sales must come from food |
| Beer delivery | Yes, in 6 cities: Kansas City, Manhattan, Shawnee, Lawrence, Olathe, Topeka, Lenexa, Overland Park, and Wichita |
What You'll Learn
Beer sales are prohibited before noon on Sundays
Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and the state's complex relationship with alcohol stems from its long era of prohibition, which lasted from 1881 to 1948—longer than any other state.
While Kansas is no longer a dry state, it does have dry counties where alcohol sales are prohibited. In addition, the sale of beer is prohibited before noon on Sundays. This means that if you're planning to purchase beer on a Sunday, you'll need to wait until after 12 pm. This restriction applies to both off-premise and on-premise locations. Off-premise beer sales can be made from 9 am to 8 pm on Sundays, while on-premise sales can be made from 9 am to 2 am.
It's important to note that the regulations for on-premise sales are the same every day, and there are no restrictions on Sunday sales as long as the business is authorised to sell alcohol. However, Sunday off-premise location sales before noon were only recently allowed in Kansas.
In addition to the Sunday restrictions, there are also some holidays during which beer sales are prohibited. These include Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On these days, alcohol sales are not permitted, and stores will be closed. However, this may vary depending on the city and county, as some areas have adopted laws permitting Sunday liquor sales.
The laws regarding alcohol sales in Kansas can be quite complex, and they may vary depending on the county and the type of establishment. It's always a good idea to check the local laws and regulations before attempting to purchase alcohol, especially on Sundays or holidays.
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Kansas has dry counties where you can't buy alcohol
Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, which stem from its long history of prohibition. From 1881 to 1948, Kansas had statewide prohibition—longer than any other state. Even after the Twenty-first Amendment ended nationwide prohibition in 1933, Kansas continued to prohibit the sale of alcohol until 1948.
Kansas's strict approach to alcohol regulation has persisted into the 21st century. Notably, Kansas has not ratified the Twenty-first Amendment as of April 2017. As of March 2023, Kansas has one dry county where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted.
Kansas has a total of 105 counties, which are divided into three categories:
- 30% food sales requirement: Sixty-three counties require that alcohol can only be sold with the purchase of food, which must constitute at least 30% of the total sale.
- No food sales requirement: Thirty-nine counties do not require an accompanying food purchase with the sale of alcohol.
- No alcohol by the drink: Three counties—Wallace, Stanton, and Haskell—are completely dry, meaning that no alcohol can be purchased in these counties.
The sale of alcohol in Kansas is prohibited on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter Sunday, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. In cities or counties where alcohol sales have been expanded on Sundays, alcohol can be purchased on Christmas and New Year's Eves from 9 am to 8 pm. Cities in Johnson and Wyandotte counties allow expanded alcohol sales.
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Alcohol sales are not allowed on certain holidays
Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. Alcohol sales are prohibited on certain holidays, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On other days of the week, off-premise beer sales can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on-premise beer sales can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
On Sundays, off-premise beer sales are allowed from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on-premise sales follow the same hours as other days. However, there are some counties in Kansas that have expanded Sunday sales, allowing alcohol sales until 11:00 p.m. in certain licensed establishments. These counties include Johnson and Wyandotte.
Kansas has a unique history with alcohol laws, having had statewide prohibition from 1881 to 1948, longer than any other state. Even after prohibition ended nationwide in 1933, Kansas continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. The state's strict approach to alcohol regulation stems from this long era of prohibition.
Today, Kansas has one dry county, Wallace County, where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted. Additionally, Kansas law divides alcohol into six categories, each with different regulations. For example, grocery and convenience stores can sell beer, but it cannot exceed 6% alcohol by volume.
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Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer, but not liquor
Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state had a long period of prohibition, lasting from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987.
Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer in Kansas, but there are several restrictions in place. Firstly, the beer sold in these stores cannot exceed 6% alcohol by volume (ABV). Secondly, beer sales are prohibited before noon on Sundays. Thirdly, there are certain holidays on which beer and liquor sales are not permitted in Kansas, including Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Kansas law divides alcohol into six categories, each with its own regulations. "Alcoholic liquor" includes spirits, wine, and beer containing over 3.2% alcohol by weight. Spirits include beverages such as brandy, rum, whiskey, and gin. A "cereal malt beverage" (CMB) is defined as beer containing 3.2% or less alcohol by weight, and a "nonalcoholic malt beverage" contains less than 0.5% alcohol by weight. "Domestic table wine" is wine containing 14% or less alcohol by volume and is manufactured by Kansas farm wineries from locally-grown products. "Domestic fortified wine" contains between 14% and 20% alcohol by volume and is also produced by Kansas wineries. Finally, "domestic beer" contains 8% or less alcohol by weight and is manufactured by microbreweries using Kansas-grown agricultural products.
Retail liquor stores in Kansas are subject to strict regulations regarding their licensing, ownership, and operation. These stores are only allowed to sell alcoholic beverages during specified hours and are prohibited from selling alcohol on certain holidays.
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Gas stations can sell beer, but it must be under 6% ABV
Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and the state's approach to alcohol is heavily influenced by its long history of prohibition. While Kansas is not a dry state, it does have a number of dry counties where alcohol sales are prohibited.
When it comes to buying beer at gas stations in Kansas, it is important to note that gas stations can only sell beer with an ABV of 6% or lower. This restriction also applies to grocery stores and convenience stores. These establishments are not allowed to sell beer with a higher ABV.
The hours during which alcohol can be sold in Kansas vary depending on the day of the week and the type of establishment. Off-premise beer sales are permitted Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. On-premise beer sales can be made any day from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. However, there are certain holidays during which alcohol sales are prohibited, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Additionally, some counties and cities in Kansas have imposed more restrictive hours for alcohol sales.
It is worth noting that the laws regarding alcohol sales in Kansas have been evolving, with some restrictions being lifted in recent years. For example, it was only recently that Kansas allowed Sunday off-premise location sales before noon. Additionally, Kansas used to have more stringent restrictions on the ABV of beer sold in gas stations and grocery stores, previously limiting it to 3.2% ABV.
In summary, while gas stations in Kansas can sell beer, it must be under 6% ABV. This restriction is in place to regulate alcohol sales and consumption in the state, which has a history of strict alcohol laws. It is important for individuals to be aware of the local laws and regulations regarding alcohol sales, as they can vary from state to state and even within different counties and cities within Kansas.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy beer at a grocery store in Kansas, but it can only contain up to 6% ABV.
Yes, you can buy beer at a gas station in Kansas, but it can only contain up to 6% ABV.
Yes, you can buy beer in Kansas on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in cities or counties where alcohol sales have been expanded on Sundays.
No, you cannot buy beer in Kansas on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.
It depends on the location of K-Shop. If K-Shop is located in a city or county where alcohol sales have been expanded on Sundays, then you can buy beer on holidays that fall on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
