Beer And Voting: Can You Buy Alcohol On Election Day?

In the United States, it is now legal to buy beer on election day. However, this has not always been the case. In the pre-Prohibition era, several states started mandating liquor stores to close down on election day. Maryland was the first state to implement this law in 1811, and other states followed suit. The laws were put in place because candidates would try to get people to vote for them by offering free alcohol. Since 2014, when South Carolina became the last state to repeal the law, there have been no Election Day alcohol restrictions in the contiguous United States. However, some U.S. territories and certain Alaskan jurisdictions still have restrictions in place.

In the US, beer can be bought on voting day, except in certain parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Massachusetts

In the US, beer can be purchased on voting day, except in certain parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Massachusetts. This is due to an age-old law that banned US citizens from buying alcohol on Election Day, which is still active in these areas.

The law was initially put in place as candidates would use alcohol to persuade undecided voters to vote for them, with some even alleging that George Washington was guilty of this tactic. Maryland was the first US state to implement an Election Day alcohol ban in 1811, and other states followed suit. Over time, however, most states have repealed this law, with South Carolina being the last mainland state to officially repeal it in 2014.

While Election Day alcohol restrictions no longer exist in most parts of the contiguous US, certain jurisdictions in Alaska and parts of Puerto Rico and Massachusetts still uphold the ban. Therefore, if you reside in these areas, it is advisable to check the relevant laws before attempting to purchase alcohol on Election Day.

In 1811, Maryland was the first US state to ban alcohol sales on election day

In the US, citizens are no longer banned from buying alcohol on Election Day. However, this wasn't always the case. In 1811, Maryland was the first US state to prohibit the sale of alcohol on Election Day.

The banning of alcohol sales on Election Day was a pre-Prohibition era trend, as candidates would try to get inebriated people to vote for their candidate or entice them with alcohol during the campaign season. According to WUSA9, George Washington was allegedly guilty of this.

Following Maryland's lead, several other states implemented similar bans. However, over the years, most states repealed these laws. In June 2014, South Carolina became the last mainland US state to roll back its Election Day alcohol ban. As of 2023, only parts of Puerto Rico, certain Alaskan jurisdictions, and some areas of Massachusetts still have Election Day dry laws in place.

While Election Day alcohol restrictions are no longer in force in the contiguous US, several Latin American countries still enforce dry laws during elections, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

In 2014, South Carolina became the last US mainland state to repeal the ban

In 2014, South Carolina became the last US mainland state to lift the ban on Election Day alcohol sales. The state's Senate voted 41-1 to repeal the ban, which had been in place since at least 1882. The primary purpose of the ban was to reduce corruption and bribery during elections, as candidates often supplied alcohol to voters to influence their decisions.

The repeal of the ban was supported by state Representative Bakari Sellers, who believed that South Carolina needed to embrace the 21st century. Sellers had been working towards repealing the ban for eight years, facing opposition from legislators who objected on religious grounds. The new legislation also included an amendment prohibiting the use, purchase, or sale of powdered alcohol.

With the change, South Carolina joined the rest of the contiguous United States in allowing alcohol sales on Election Day. While similar laws remain in certain parts of Alaska, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico, South Carolina's repeal marked a significant step towards modernising outdated election practices and giving citizens the freedom to purchase alcohol regardless of the polling day.

In the 1800s, US politicians would offer drinks in exchange for votes

In the United States, the practice of offering drinks in exchange for votes can be traced back to the 1800s and earlier. While the exchange of alcohol for votes may seem counterintuitive, it made sense in the context of the time. In the 1800s, voting day was a day-long affair, often involving arduous travel to a distant town centre. Serving alcohol was seen as a natural part of the festivities, especially considering that colonials drank more than twice as much hard liquor as the average modern American.

The practice of offering drinks in exchange for votes was so common that it even had a nickname: "treating" or "swilling the planters with bumbo" (rum). It was so customary that if a candidate refused to take part, they were almost guaranteed a loss. In 1755, a 24-year-old George Washington ran for the House of Burgesses (the Virginia state legislature) and refused to take part in "treating". He lost the election, receiving only 40 votes compared to his opponent's 271. Three years later, Washington changed his mind and served 144 gallons of alcohol (rum, punch, hard cider, and beer), winning him 331 votes.

Another famous example of the practice's influence occurred in 1777 when James Madison refused to take part in Virginia's tradition of "corrupting the influence of spiritous liquors and other treats". As a result, he lost the election to an opponent who brought whiskey for the voters.

The exchange of alcohol for votes was so prevalent that, in 1811, Maryland became the first state to pass a law prohibiting candidates from purchasing alcohol for voters. Over time, more states began to ban the sale of alcohol on Election Day, though most have since dropped this practice. Today, it is illegal to use food or drink as a means to bribe voters in the US, with Section 597 of Title 18 of the USC imposing a penalty of up to two years in jail.

Many Latin American countries still ban alcohol sales on election days

In the US, several states historically banned the sale of alcohol on election days, with Maryland being the first to implement this rule in 1811. This was because candidates would try to get inebriated people to vote for them or entice them with alcohol during the campaign season. However, since 2014, when South Carolina became the last mainland state to repeal its ban, there have been no Election Day alcohol restrictions in the contiguous United States. However, parts of Puerto Rico, Alaska, and certain jurisdictions in Massachusetts still ban alcohol sales on election days.

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