Arabella Franco
Vermont has a unique arrangement for the sale of alcohol. The state contracts with private retailers to sell alcohol, and beer and lower-alcohol wines are typically available in convenience and grocery stores. While retail stores can sell alcohol from 6 a.m. to midnight, bars and restaurants may serve from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Vermont does not have any extra restrictions on Sundays, so you can buy beer on Sundays. The hours of sale for retailers are the same as the rest of the week, and some businesses may choose to close on Sundays, but they are not legally required to.
What You'll Learn
Vermont's alcohol laws
Vermont has an open container law, which means that open bottles of alcohol must be transported in the trunk of a vehicle, rather than in the main compartment. The state also has strict laws against drinking and driving, with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) limit of 0.08% for drivers over the age of 21, and a limit of 0.02% for drivers under 21.
Vermont has some unique regulations surrounding the sale and consumption of alcohol. For example, bartenders are not allowed to drink on the job, and establishments are prohibited from selling alcohol to visibly drunk patrons. Additionally, drinking games such as beer pong are banned, and there is no happy hour, although drink prices can be reduced for an entire day.
Vermont also has laws in place to stabilize alcohol pricing statewide. Establishments are prohibited from selling alcohol for less than the wholesale price, and free drinks are not allowed. However, certain licenses permit free tastes or samples.
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On-premise retailers
Vermont has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the country, with laws in place to control pricing and discourage quick or excessive consumption of alcohol. For example, establishments are not allowed to offer alcohol at reduced prices for a limited time (e.g. happy hour), although they can reduce prices for an entire day. Additionally, bartenders cannot drink on the job, and they are prohibited from selling alcohol to anyone who is drunk, appears drunk, or is likely to become drunk.
Vermont does not have any extra restrictions on Sundays, so the hours of sale for on-premise retailers are the same as the rest of the week. However, some businesses may choose to close on Sundays.
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Off-premise retailers
Vermont has a unique arrangement for the sale of alcohol. The state contracts with private retailers to sell alcohol, rather than operating state-owned stores. Beer and lower-alcohol wine are typically available in convenience and grocery stores.
Retailers that sell alcohol for off-premise consumption, like grocery stores, can sell between 6 am and midnight. This includes supermarkets, gas stations, and liquor stores.
Vermont has no extra restrictions on Sundays. You can buy beer on Sunday in Vermont, and the hours of sale for retailers are the same as the rest of the week. Some businesses may choose to close on Sundays, but they are not legally required to.
Vermont has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the country, with rules in place to discourage dangerous behaviour involving alcohol. For example, it is against the rules to sell alcohol to anyone who is drunk, appears drunk, or is likely to become drunk. Establishments are also prohibited from giving out booze for free.
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Dry counties and towns
Vermont is not a dry state, and alcohol can be purchased 7 days a week. However, there are dry towns in Vermont where alcohol cannot be purchased. Vermont has 14 counties and 237 towns, out of which only 4 are dry towns. Vermont allows municipalities to exercise a local option by public referendum to decide whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.
Dry laws, also known as prohibition laws, are laws that prohibit or greatly restrict the sale or production of alcohol. In the United States, there are 33 states that allow localities to prohibit the sale, consumption, and possession of liquor. However, Vermont is not one of the states that is completely dry. The sale and production of alcohol are not prohibited in the state, and its restrictions are light enough to not be considered a dry state.
The laws regarding the sale of alcohol vary across different states in the US. While some states are completely dry, others allow localities to decide their wet or dry status. Vermont falls into the latter category, with no dry counties but 4 dry towns. This means that while alcohol can be purchased in most parts of the state, there are specific towns that have chosen to prohibit the sale of alcohol through a public referendum.
The hours for purchasing alcohol in Vermont are consistent throughout the state. On-premise retailers like bars and restaurants can sell alcohol between 8 am and 2 am, while off-premise retailers like grocery stores can sell between 6 am and midnight. There are no additional restrictions on Sundays, so the hours of sale for retailers remain the same as the rest of the week. However, businesses are not legally required to be open on Sundays and may choose to close.
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Drinking and driving laws
In Vermont, drinking and driving is taken very seriously, with laws and penalties in place to discourage people from taking the risk. The legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08%, and a driver registering over this limit is considered to be 'per se intoxicated', meaning no further evidence is required to prosecute for driving under the influence (DUI). The penalties for a DUI conviction can include a license suspension of 90 days for a first offense, 18 months for a second offense, and permanent license revocation for a third offense.
Vermont also has zero-tolerance laws for drivers under the age of 21, with a legal BAC limit of 0.02%. Penalties for a conviction can include a license suspension for six months and an alcohol education course. The state also has implied consent laws, which means that when a driver obtains a license, they agree to comply with a law officer's request for blood, breath, or urine testing for intoxication. Refusing to cooperate with chemical testing can result in a mandatory suspension of a driver's license for up to a year.
In addition to the legal limits and penalties, Vermont has an open container law, which means that no previously opened bottles of alcohol may be transported in the main compartment of a vehicle. These containers must be placed in the trunk, a locked glove box, or behind the rearmost upright seat if there is no trunk. There are exceptions to this law for passengers in commercial vehicles, such as limousines, and for people in the living area of a motorhome.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy beer on a Sunday in Vermont. The hours of sale for retailers are the same as the rest of the week.
On-premise retailers such as bars and restaurants can sell alcohol between 8 am and 2 am. Off-premise retailers such as grocery stores can sell alcohol between 6 am and midnight.
Yes, Vermont has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the country. For example, it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone who is drunk, appears drunk, or is likely to become drunk. Bartenders are also not allowed to consume alcohol while working.
