Montana's Sunday Beer Buying Laws Explained

In Montana, you can buy beer and wine in any grocery store or gas station on Sundays, and some state-run liquor stores are open on Sundays. However, Walmart, Target, and CVS do not sell alcohol on Sundays. Montana is one of seven states that prohibit the sale of spirits on Sundays.

Montana's 'agency' liquor stores may be open on Sundays and holidays, following the passing of House Bill 867

In Montana, you can buy beer every day, and bars are open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. However, until recently, Montana was one of seven states in the U.S. that prohibited the retail sale of distilled spirits on Sundays.

Montana's 'agency' liquor stores were previously closed on Sundays, Mondays, and holidays. These agency liquor stores are 93 stores spread throughout the state that purchase liquor directly from the state's main distribution warehouse. They were previously run by the state but have been privatized since 1995.

House Bill 867, sponsored by Rep. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, aimed to allow these agency stores to remain open on Sundays, holidays, and some Mondays. The bill was supported by the Montana Tavern Association, which represents bars and taverns, after an amendment was made to give taverns, bars, package stores, and restaurants up to seven days of credit to pay for the liquor. The bill passed the Montana House with bipartisan support, 83-16.

As a result of the bill, Montanas agency liquor stores may now be open on Sundays and holidays, marking a shift in the state's alcohol sales regulations.

Minors can drink alcohol in a private location without breaking the law

In Montana, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy or consume alcohol in public, or possess alcohol in a public place, with or without parental consent. However, there is an exception to this rule when it comes to private locations. Minors can drink alcohol in a private location without breaking the law, as long as the alcohol is provided by their parent or guardian and is not in a business that sells alcohol. This means that it is legal for minors to drink at home or a private party, but not at a bar or restaurant.

Montana's alcohol laws permit adults aged 18 and older to work as servers in venues that sell alcohol for on-site consumption. These individuals may also bartend or sell alcohol to be consumed elsewhere. However, it is illegal for anyone to sell alcohol to a minor, and there are strict penalties for doing so. It is also illegal for minors to use a false ID to purchase alcohol, and it is a crime to lend, give, make, or sell a fake ID.

Montana has a government monopoly on all liquor stores, and these stores are typically closed on Sundays. However, bars and liquor stores that are privately owned may be open from 8 am to 2 am daily. Grocery stores and gas stations can sell beer and table wine from 8:30 am to 2 am every day, and some state-run liquor stores are also open on Sundays. Restaurants can sell alcohol daily from 11 am to 11 pm.

Montana's alcohol laws also include restrictions on drinking and driving. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than 0.02%. For drivers 21 and older, the legal limit is 0.08%. DUI convictions result in penalties that increase in severity depending on the circumstances and the number of offenses.

Beer and wine are available at convenience stores and supermarkets from 8:30 am to 2 am

Montana has some unique rules regarding alcohol sales and consumption. While it is not a dry state, it does have two dry areas: the Crow Indian Reserve and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, where alcohol sales and consumption are banned. In the rest of the state, alcohol is readily available, and there are no restrictions on Sunday sales. This sets Montana apart from some other states in the US, which ban alcohol sales on Sundays.

The state has a government monopoly on liquor stores, and these stores are known as "agency" liquor stores. These stores purchase liquor directly from the state's distribution warehouse and sell it to bars, restaurants, and retail customers. In April 2023, a bill was passed to allow these agency liquor stores to remain open on Sundays and some holidays, providing greater flexibility for alcohol sales in the state.

Montana also has some interesting drinking laws. For example, minors are allowed to drink alcohol at private locations without breaking the law, as long as it is provided by their parents, guardians, or spouses. Additionally, Montana has strict open container laws, making it illegal to have open containers of alcohol in vehicles or public areas that are not zoned for alcohol consumption.

Montana is a control state for distilled spirits only

Montana has some interesting rules concerning alcohol use. Notably, the state is a control state for distilled spirits only. This means that the state directly controls the wholesaling and distribution of spirits, but not beer and wine. All wholesale distribution of spirits is managed at the state level.

Montana has a government monopoly on all liquor stores, with a minimum of 10 am to 6 pm opening hours, although individual stores may be open longer. Most are closed on Sundays, but a bill has been passed to allow state agency liquor stores to remain open on Sundays and holidays. This bill, known as House Bill 867, was sponsored by Rep. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, and supported by the Montana Tavern Association. It aimed to get the state government out of private business and give businesses the freedom to choose their operating days and hours.

Montana's liquor stores are called ""agency" stores, and there are 93 of them spread across the state. These stores purchase liquor directly from the state's main distribution warehouse and sell to bars, restaurants, and retail customers. Before privatisation in 1995, these stores were run by the state and were called "state liquor stores". Despite the privatisation, the policy that kept the stores closed on Sundays, Mondays, and holidays remained in force until the passing of House Bill 867.

Montana has relatively lenient alcohol laws compared to other states. Beer is widely available, and bars and restaurants are permitted to sell alcohol daily. Grocery stores and gas stations can sell beer and wine from 8 am to 2 am every day, and some state-run liquor stores are open on Sundays. The state does not have any dry counties, but there are two dry areas: the Crow Indian Reserve and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, where alcohol sales and consumption are banned.

Montana has two dry areas: the Crow Indian Reserve and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation

Montana has some interesting laws concerning alcohol use. For example, minors can drink alcohol at a private location without breaking the law, and the state has a government monopoly on all liquor stores. Montana is not a dry state, but it does have two dry areas: the Crow Indian Reserve and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Alcohol sales and consumption are banned on both of these reservations, but the rest of the state allows the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Montana allows its counties and other localities to become dry following an official public vote on the matter. The state's alcohol laws are relatively lenient compared to other states, with bars and liquor stores open from 8 am to 2 am daily and restaurants allowed to sell alcohol from 11 am to 11 pm. There are no restrictions on buying alcohol on Sundays, and some state-run liquor stores are open on Sundays.

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