Buying Beer On Memorial Day In Wellington, Ks: What's Open?

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and the state has a complicated history with alcohol. While Kansas is not a dry state, it has one dry county where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted. Alcohol laws vary from state to state, and in some cases, county to county. In most states, you can buy alcohol on Memorial Day, but there may be restrictions on sales during the early morning hours. In some states, liquor stores are closed on Memorial Day, while in others, they are open. In Kansas, off-premise beer sales can be made 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 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. any day. However, it is important to note that the city or county can impose different, more restrictive hours.

Kansas is not a dry state, but it has complicated alcohol laws

Kansas is not a dry state, but its alcohol laws are among the strictest in the United States. The state's approach to alcohol is informed by its long history of prohibition. From 1881 to 1948, Kansas had a statewide prohibition on alcohol—the longest of any state. Even after prohibition ended across the United States in 1933, Kansas continued to prohibit the sale of alcohol until 1948.

The sale of alcohol by the drink in public places (on-premises) was prohibited until 1987. During the 1970s, Kansas Attorney General Vern Miller renewed the enforcement of prohibition, even raiding Amtrak trains travelling through the state to stop illegal liquor sales. He also forced airlines to stop serving alcohol while in Kansas airspace.

As of 2023, Kansas has one dry county where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted. Kansas has not ratified the Twenty-first Amendment, which ended nationwide prohibition in 1933.

Kansas law divides alcohol into six categories, each regulated differently. Alcoholic liquor includes spirits, wine, and beer containing over 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, and a nonalcoholic malt beverage is beer with less than 0.5% alcohol by weight. Domestic table wine is wine with 14% or less alcohol by volume, made by Kansas farm wineries from Kansas-grown products. Domestic fortified wine has between 14% and 20% alcohol by volume, also made in Kansas. Domestic beer is beer with 8% or less alcohol by weight, manufactured by microbreweries from Kansas-grown agricultural products.

Retail liquor stores are licensed by the state, and CMB retailers are licensed by the city or county. Retail liquor store licensees must be US citizens for 10 years, Kansas residents for 4 years, and be at least 21 years old. They cannot have a felony conviction, a crime of moral turpitude, or a liquor law violation on their record. The licensee's spouse must meet the same qualifications. 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. Sales are also prohibited between 11:00 PM and 9:00 AM.

CMB licensees must be US citizens, Kansas residents for one year, and residents of the county in which the business is located for six months. They must be at least 21 years old and cannot have a felony conviction in the preceding two years. CMB retailers may sell CMB or nonalcoholic malt beverages. Sales are prohibited between midnight and 6:00 AM.

Alcohol sales are prohibited on certain holidays, including Memorial Day

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and alcohol sales are prohibited on certain holidays, including Memorial Day.

Kansas had statewide prohibition from 1881 to 1948, longer than any other state, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. Kansas's strict and highly regulated approach to alcohol stems from lingering vestiges of its long era of prohibition.

The sale of alcohol in Kansas is prohibited on Memorial Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. However, if the local government has voted to allow Sunday sales, then alcohol sales are prohibited only on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and Thanksgiving.

In addition to these restrictions, alcohol sales in Kansas are only allowed during specific hours. Off-premise beer sales can be made 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 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. any day.

It is important to note that Kansas has 105 counties, and three of them are completely dry, meaning that no alcohol can be purchased in these counties. The remaining counties are divided into two categories: 63 counties require a 30% food sales requirement with the purchase of alcohol, and 39 counties have no food sales requirement.

While alcohol sales are prohibited on Memorial Day in Kansas, there are some alternatives for those who need to purchase alcohol on this day. Grocery stores, chain stores, and restaurants are usually open on Memorial Day and may sell alcohol, although it is important to check the regulations governing these establishments. Additionally, some states allow alcohol sales on Memorial Day, so planning to purchase alcohol in a different state may be an option for some individuals.

Off-premise beer sales can be made Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and the state has a complicated history with alcohol legislation. Off-premise beer sales in Kansas can be made from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Saturday. This means that beer can be purchased from licensed retailers, such as liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations, but must be consumed off-site.

It's important to note that the laws regarding alcohol sales vary across counties and cities within Kansas. While off-premise sales are allowed in most counties, there are still some that are considered "dry", meaning the sale of alcohol is prohibited. For example, Wallace, Stanton, and Haskell counties are classified as completely dry. Additionally, some counties require that alcohol can only be sold if food is also purchased, with a minimum of 30% of sales coming from food.

Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, is a federal holiday commemorating those who died while serving in the country's armed forces. In Kansas, alcohol sales are prohibited on certain holidays, including Memorial Day, unless the local government has specifically allowed it. Therefore, it is likely that off-premise beer sales will not be permitted in Kansas on Memorial Day.

To ensure you don't run into any issues, it is recommended to purchase alcohol beforehand and to check the specific regulations in your county or city.

On-premise beer sales can be made from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and the sale of alcohol in the state is highly regulated. While Kansas is not a dry state, it does have one dry county where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited.

On-premise beer sales in Kansas can be made from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day. This means that, in establishments where you consume beer on-site, such as bars and restaurants, you can purchase beer during those hours every day of the week.

The regulations for on-premise sales are the same every day, and there are no restrictions on Memorial Day specifically. However, it's important to note that the sale of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages (CMB) is prohibited on certain holidays, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Additionally, some counties in Kansas may impose more restrictive hours for on-premise sales.

It's always a good idea to check with your local laws and the specific establishment you plan to visit to confirm their hours and any restrictions they may have.

You can buy beer at bars, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, and breweries or taprooms

If you're in Wellington, KS, and you need to buy beer on Memorial Day, you have a few options. Firstly, it's important to note that Kansas is not a dry state, so you can legally buy and consume beer there. However, Kansas has a total of 105 counties, which are categorized into three groups: 30% food sales requirement, no food sales requirement, and no alcohol by the drink.

Wellington is located in Sumner County, which is a 30% food sales requirement county. This means that you can buy beer at bars and restaurants in Wellington as long as they derive 30% of their gross sales from food. These establishments can sell beer any day between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.

You can also buy beer at grocery stores and gas stations in Wellington, but there are some restrictions. These places can only sell beer with an alcohol content of 6% or less. Additionally, grocery stores are prohibited from selling any liquor besides 3.2% beer.

Liquor stores in Kansas are permitted to sell beer, and they can be open on Mondays through Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. However, keep in mind that Memorial Day is one of the holidays when liquor stores are required to be closed.

Finally, you can also try breweries or taprooms in Wellington. They can sell beer just like bars and restaurants, as long as they meet the 30% food sales requirement.

So, to summarize, you have multiple options for buying beer in Wellington, KS, on Memorial Day. You can try bars, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores (although they may be closed for the holiday), or breweries and taprooms. Just remember to follow the local laws and regulations regarding alcohol sales and consumption.

Frequently asked questions