Kansas Memorial Day: Beer Buying Explained

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state has a long history of prohibition, and its alcohol laws are still heavily regulated. So, can you buy beer in Kansas on Memorial Day? The answer is: it's complicated. Kansas alcohol laws are notoriously complex, and the state is historically dry. While Kansas is not a dry state, it does have dry counties where alcohol cannot be purchased. Liquor sales are also restricted on certain holidays, including Memorial Day. However, this only applies to state-owned liquor stores, and beer and wine may still be available. Additionally, some counties have different restrictions, and sales may be allowed depending on the local ordinances. So, if you're planning a Memorial Day barbecue in Kansas, it's best to stock up on alcohol early and check the regulations for your specific county.

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the US

The state's strict approach to alcohol regulation is a legacy of its long history of prohibition. Kansas was a centre of the temperance movement in the 19th century, and several towns enacted local liquor laws before statewide prohibition came into force. The movement was driven by several factors, including the perception of saloons as divisive to families, as they were exclusively male spaces. The temperance movement also became associated with the abolitionist cause in Kansas.

Kansas was the first state to enact a constitutional prohibition on alcohol, and it remains the only state that has not ratified the Twenty-first Amendment, which ended nationwide prohibition in 1933. Even after the end of prohibition, Kansas voters rejected a proposal to regulate and tax liquor in the state.

Kansas law divides alcohol into six categories, each regulated differently. Alcoholic liquor includes spirits, wine, and beer containing more than 3.2% alcohol by weight. Spirits include beverages like brandy, rum, whiskey, and gin. A cereal malt beverage (CMB) is beer containing less than 3.2% alcohol by weight, while a nonalcoholic malt beverage is beer with less than 0.5% alcohol. Domestic table wine is wine with 14% or less alcohol by volume, made by Kansas farm wineries from local products. Domestic fortified wine has between 14% and 20% alcohol by volume, also made in-state. Domestic beer is beer with 8% or less alcohol by weight, produced by microbreweries using Kansas-grown ingredients.

Kansas has a three-tier liquor distribution system, where alcohol is distributed from manufacturer to distributor to retailer. The only exceptions are farm wineries and microbreweries, which can sell directly to consumers, and establishments that can buy beer and bulk wine directly from wholesalers. Off-premises liquor sales are restricted to licensed liquor stores, while grocery stores and gas stations may sell CMB.

Retail liquor stores have strict licensing requirements, including U.S. citizenship for 10 years, Kansas residency for 4 years, no felony convictions, and a minimum age of 21 years. Sales are prohibited on certain holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, unless local governments have voted to allow Sunday sales. In that case, sales are only prohibited on Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. Sales are also restricted to between 9 am and 11 pm, and retailers in counties that sell alcohol on Sundays cannot do so after 8 pm.

Kansas is not a dry state, but it has dry counties

Kansas had a statewide prohibition from 1881 to 1948, which was longer than any other state. Even after the nationwide prohibition ended in 1933, Kansas continued to prohibit the sale of alcohol until 1948. The state's strict and highly regulated approach to alcohol today stems from this long era of prohibition.

As of March 2023, there is only one dry county left in Kansas, where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is allowed. This means that while you cannot purchase liquor in this county, you may be able to buy low-alcohol beer. Additionally, 67 counties in Kansas have a unique requirement where restaurants must derive at least 30% of their revenue from food sales to be permitted to sell liquor by the drink.

The laws regarding alcohol sales in Kansas vary across different counties, and it's important to be aware of these regulations, especially on holidays like Memorial Day. While some states restrict alcohol sales on Memorial Day, Kansas does not specifically prohibit the sale of alcohol on this holiday. However, it's always a good idea to check with your local laws and specific county regulations to ensure you're compliant.

Alcohol sales are prohibited on certain holidays

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 continuing to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987.

Kansas has a three-tier liquor distribution system. Alcohol is distributed from manufacturer to distributor to retailer. The exceptions are that farm wineries and microbreweries may sell directly to the consumer, and establishments may purchase beer and bulk wine directly from wholesalers.

The state has strict laws regarding the purchasing of alcohol. Alcohol sales are prohibited on certain holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Retail liquor stores are permitted to 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.

Kansas has dry counties where the sale of alcohol is prohibited. Three of Kansas' 105 counties—Wallace, Stanton, and Haskell—are completely dry. Sixty-three of the other counties require a 30% food sales requirement with the purchase of alcohol, and the remaining 39 counties do not require an accompanying food purchase.

Off-premise beer sales in Kansas can be made Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 11 pm. On-premise beer sales can be made from 9 am to 2 am any day. On Sundays, off-premise beer sales are allowed from 9 am to 8 pm, and on-premise sales follow the same hours as other days.

Alcohol sales are restricted to certain hours

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

Kansas has a three-tier liquor distribution system. Alcohol is distributed from manufacturer to distributor to retailer. The exceptions are that farm wineries and microbreweries may sell directly to the consumer, and establishments may purchase beer and bulk wine directly from wholesalers.

Off-premises liquor sales are only allowed in licensed liquor stores. Grocery stores and gas stations may sell cereal malt beverages (CMB). Retail liquor stores are licensed by the state, and CMB retailers are licensed by the city or county.

Retail liquor stores can sell beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic malt beverages. They may also be licensed to sell CMBs.

CMB retailers can sell CMBs and non-alcoholic malt beverages. Sales are prohibited between midnight and 6 am.

On-premise sales can be made from 9 am to 2 am any day. This includes bars, restaurants, and breweries or taprooms.

Kansas has a total of 105 counties, which are divided into three categories: 30% food sales requirement, no food sales requirement, and no alcohol by the drink. Three counties are completely dry, meaning no alcohol can be purchased. Sixty-three counties require 30% food sales with the purchase of alcohol, and the remaining 39 do not require an accompanying food purchase.

Alcohol sales locations vary

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.

Kansas has a three-tier liquor distribution system. Alcohol is distributed from manufacturer to distributor to retailer. The exceptions are that farm wineries and microbreweries may sell directly to the consumer, and establishments may purchase beer and bulk wine directly from wholesalers.

Off-premises liquor sales are only allowed in licensed liquor stores. Grocery stores and gas stations may sell cereal malt beverages (CMBs), which are beers containing less than 3.2% alcohol by weight. Retail liquor stores may sell beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic malt beverages. They may also be licensed to sell CMBs.

Retail liquor stores can sell alcohol between 9 am and 11 pm. In counties where Sunday sales are permitted, sales are not allowed after 8 pm.

Kansas has a number of dry counties where alcohol sales are prohibited. As of March 2023, there was one completely dry county in Kansas, and two others that were mostly dry. In these counties, on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted.

In addition to the dry counties, there are also counties that require food to be purchased with alcohol. Sixty-three of Kansas's 105 counties require 30% of food sales with the purchase of alcohol.

Alcohol sales are prohibited on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas unless the local government has voted to allow Sunday sales. If Sunday sales are allowed, sales are prohibited on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and Thanksgiving.

So, if you are in Kansas and want to buy beer on Memorial Day, you will need to check the local laws. If you are in a dry county, you will not be able to buy beer. If you are in a county that permits Sunday sales, you may be able to buy beer, but you will need to check the hours as sales may be restricted to certain times of the day.

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