Buying Beer On Sundays: A Legal Conundrum

Depending on where you live in the world, buying beer on a Sunday might be a straightforward task. However, in some places, you may find yourself out of luck. Colloquially known as blue laws, these are laws that restrict certain activities on Sundays (or other specific days) for religious reasons, to observe a day of worship or rest. As of 2024, 28 states in the US have some form of these laws, and they also exist in parts of Canada and Europe, including Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Norway.

Blue laws, or Sunday laws, are enforced in parts of the US, Canada, and some European countries

Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws that restrict or ban certain activities on particular days of the week, usually Sundays. These laws are in place to promote the observance of a day of rest and are often rooted in religion, specifically the Christian day of worship. While blue laws were originally adopted for religious reasons, they have since come to serve secular purposes as well.

In the United States, blue laws are enforced at the state level and vary across different states. While most blue laws have been repealed, many states continue to impose restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages and cars on Sundays. For example, in Texas, Sunday laws ban the sale of liquor, and liquor stores must remain closed on certain holidays. In Tennessee, blue laws prohibit bartenders from allowing alcohol to be consumed on-premises between 3 am and either 10 am or noon.

Blue laws also exist in parts of Canada and some European countries. In Canada, the sale of alcohol on Sundays is restricted in certain provinces, including Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. In Europe, blue laws are enforced in Austria, Germany, Norway, and Poland, where most stores are required to remain closed on Sundays.

The enforcement of blue laws has evolved over time, with some jurisdictions repealing or relaxing restrictions. However, they continue to be a relevant aspect of law and society in many parts of the world.

In 2019, 28 US states had some form of blue laws

Blue laws commonly ban certain business and recreational activities on Sundays, such as hunting or selling cars, and impose restrictions on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages. For example, in Massachusetts, bars are prohibited from promoting happy hours on Sundays, and in South Carolina, restaurants must obtain a special permit to sell alcohol on Sundays. Additionally, about half of Alabama's counties do not allow any alcohol sales on Sundays.

While blue laws may seem unconstitutional due to their religious origins, the US Supreme Court has ruled them constitutional, citing their secular justifications. However, various state courts have struck down blue laws as unenforceable or in violation of state constitutions. In response, some state legislators have re-enacted certain Sunday laws while allowing others to remain on the books without the intention to enforce them.

The existence of blue laws varies by state, and even by county within a state. For instance, in Arkansas, 39 out of 75 counties are "dry", meaning they prohibit the sale of alcohol entirely. On the other hand, Tennessee began allowing wine sales on Sundays in 2018, recognising that Sunday was "the biggest shopping day of the week".

While blue laws are based on religion, the US Supreme Court has ruled them constitutional

Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws that restrict or ban certain activities on specified days, most often Sundays. These laws were originally adopted for religious reasons, specifically to promote the observance of the Christian day of worship. However, they have since come to serve secular purposes as well.

Blue laws commonly ban certain business and recreational activities on Sundays, including the sale of alcoholic beverages. The laws also place limitations on a range of other activities, such as travel, hunting, professional sports, and movie showings. While less prevalent today, blue laws continue to be enforced in parts of the United States, Canada, and some European countries.

In the United States, the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of blue laws, recognizing their religious origins but focusing on their secular justifications. The Court has cited secular bases such as securing a day of rest for workers, protecting families, and contributing to societal stability. The free exercise of religion is also guaranteed. While the historical roots of blue laws are religious, the Court has ruled that they do not violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

Blue laws vary by state and county

Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws that restrict or ban some or all activities on specified days, most often Sundays. They are in place to promote the observance of a day of rest and worship for religious reasons. While blue laws may seem unconstitutional due to their religious basis, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled them constitutional, citing secular bases such as protecting workers and families, and guaranteeing the free exercise of religion.

Blue laws are enforced in parts of the United States, and they vary by state and county. Here are some examples of how blue laws differ across different states and counties:

Arkansas

Arkansas has 75 counties, 39 of which are "dry" counties, meaning they prohibit the sale of any alcoholic beverage entirely. Alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays and Christmas Day in most counties.

Connecticut

Until 2012, Connecticut had a ban on selling alcohol on Sundays. The state also prohibits hunting on Sundays, except on private land and other permitted areas.

Georgia

Georgia prohibited the sale of alcohol in stores on Sundays until 2011. Sales are still restricted on Sundays before 12:30 pm.

Indiana

In Indiana, Sunday alcohol sales are restricted to between noon and 8 pm.

Maryland

Maryland law prohibits professional sports games from being played before 1 pm on Sundays, unless a local law or ordinance allows it.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has a "Day of Rest" statute that provides that all employees are entitled to one day off from work in seven calendar days. The state also had a law banning the sale of alcohol on Sundays until it was repealed in late 2010.

New Jersey

Bergen County, New Jersey, has one of the last remaining Sunday closing laws, prohibiting the sale of electronics, clothing, and furniture on Sundays. Paramus, a town within Bergen County, has even more restrictive blue laws, banning all types of work on Sundays except for certain essential businesses.

North Carolina

North Carolina law prohibits alcohol sales between 2 am and 7 am Monday through Saturday, and between 2 am and either 10 am or 12 pm on Sundays, depending on the county.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, alcohol cannot be consumed on-premise between 3 am and 10 am on Sundays. If the local government has decided against extended hours for alcohol sales, then the prohibited hours are from 3 am to noon.

Texas

Texas law requires car dealerships to close on either Saturday or Sunday, with the dealer having the option to choose the day. The state also has specific laws regulating the sale of different types of alcohol.

These examples demonstrate how blue laws can vary significantly from state to state and even within different counties in the same state. While some states are relaxing their blue laws, others continue to enforce them, resulting in a diverse landscape of regulations across the country.

Some counties in Alabama don't allow alcohol sales on Sundays

In Alabama, the sale of alcohol is controlled by the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board, which has been regulating the distribution, sales, and licensing of alcohol in the state since 1937. While Alabama is not a dry state, it does have several dry counties, meaning there are very few or no options for purchasing alcohol. Additionally, about half of the counties in Alabama don't allow alcohol sales on Sundays.

The laws regarding Sunday alcohol sales vary across the state, with some places allowing off-premise consumption and others permitting both off-premise and on-premise consumption. Counties and cities are allowed to set their own hours for selling alcohol, and in some cases, a majority vote of the governing body or a referendum is required to permit Sunday sales.

In Montgomery, Alabama, for example, alcohol can be purchased any time on Sunday except between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. State-run liquor stores are closed on Sundays, and the sale of alcohol after 2 a.m. on Sunday is illegal by default in Alabama. However, localities can change this by voting.

The variation in regulations across Alabama means that it is often necessary to ask before ordering alcohol on a Sunday. For instance, in Greene County, alcohol sales are permitted on Sundays but only at dog tracks. Other cities and counties limit sales to on-premise consumption in establishments like bars or restaurants, or to private clubs.

The blue laws, which are laws that restrict certain activities on specified days, most often Sundays, are the reason behind the prohibition of alcohol sales on Sundays in some Alabama counties. These laws, which can also restrict shopping or ban the sale of certain items on specific days, are still in place in various forms across the United States, Canada, and some European countries.

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