Colorado's Beer Buying Cut-Off Time: What You Need Know

If you're planning a night out in Colorado, it's important to know the last call for alcohol sales. While the specific laws vary by state in the US, Colorado allows retail liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations to sell alcohol from 8 am to midnight, seven days a week. Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol from 7 am to 2 am every day, but they must provide food or snacks after 8 pm to continue selling alcohol. So, if you're looking to buy beer in Colorado, you'll need to plan your purchases before midnight or 2 am, depending on where you are.

Beer can be purchased from bars, restaurants, and breweries from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m

If you're planning a trip to Colorado and want to know when you can buy beer, it's important to familiarise yourself with the local liquor laws. Colorado is not a dry state, and you can buy beer from most retail locations any day of the week.

Taverns, restaurants, and brewpubs are permitted to sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. throughout the year. This is because they have permits for on-site drinking.

If you're looking to purchase beer outside of these hours, you can try grocery and liquor stores, which are typically open from 8 a.m. to midnight. However, please note that grocery stores can only sell beer with an alcohol content of up to 3.2%, and not between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Gas stations also sell beer during the same hours as grocery and liquor stores, and they offer a range of beer with different alcohol volume percentages.

Regardless of where you purchase alcohol in Colorado, it is important to remember that you must be at least 21 years old to buy and consume alcohol. Additionally, open container laws prohibit the consumption of alcohol outside of licensed premises or private residences, and drivers and passengers are not permitted to have open containers in their vehicles unless they are stored in the trunk.

Liquor and package locations, grocery stores, and gas stations sell beer from 8 a.m. to midnight

In Colorado, liquor and package locations, grocery stores, and gas stations sell beer from 8 a.m. to midnight. These timings are the standard, but businesses can choose to set their operating hours within these time frames.

Colorado is not a dry state, and none of its counties are dry. This means that it is within legal limits to buy alcoholic beverages from most retail locations on any day of the week.

Before 2019, grocery stores and gas stations in Colorado were not allowed to sell beer with an ABV of more than 3.2%. However, a new law was introduced that year, allowing these locations to sell beer of any ABV.

In addition to liquor and package stores, beer can also be purchased from bars and restaurants in Colorado. These on-premise locations can sell beer daily from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. They are legally required to sell beer on draft and in bottles or cans, and customers can purchase up to two six-packs of beer.

Colorado has strict alcohol laws, and the penalties for violating them can be severe. It is important to familiarize yourself with the liquor laws in the state to avoid facing any legal consequences.

The minimum drinking age in Colorado is 21

Colorado is not a dry state and does not have any dry counties. Alcohol can be purchased at most retail locations any day of the week. The standard hours for alcohol sales are from 8 am to midnight for grocery stores, liquor stores, and gas stations. Bars and restaurants can sell alcohol from 7 am to 2 am.

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drive with alcohol in their system. Colorado has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving under the age of 21. The maximum BAC for underage drivers is 0.02%. If you are caught drinking and driving with a BAC between 0.05% and 0.08%, it can be inferred that your ability to operate a vehicle was impaired. A BAC of 0.08% or higher is considered "under the influence".

If you are of legal drinking age and are convicted of a DUI in Colorado, first-time offence punishments include 5 days to 1 year of jail time, up to 2 years of probation, and 48-96 hours of public service.

Businesses can set their operating hours within the standard time limits

Colorado has a set of laws and regulations concerning liquor hours. The state is not dry, and none of its counties are dry. This means that it is within legal limits to buy alcoholic beverages from most retail locations on any day of the week.

Colorado laws allow retail liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations to open and sell alcohol throughout the week from 8 a.m. to midnight. These are the standard hours, but businesses can set their operating hours within these time limits. For example, a business could choose to open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m., or open at 9 a.m. and close at 11 p.m.

Businesses can also apply for permits to sell alcohol for on-site drinking. Taverns, restaurants, and brewpubs can sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. throughout the year. This means that a business could choose to operate from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., or 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., depending on their specific needs and customer base.

It is important to note that the legal drinking age in Colorado is 21, and people under 21 are not allowed to purchase or consume alcohol. Additionally, those who are 18 or older can serve alcohol in a restaurant setting as long as a supervisor over 21 is present. These laws are in place to promote responsible drinking and protect public safety.

Open containers of alcohol are not allowed outside licensed premises or private residences

Colorado's laws on open containers of alcohol are quite strict. The state prohibits open containers of alcohol outside licensed premises or private residences. This means that you cannot consume alcohol or possess open containers of alcohol in public spaces such as parks or sidewalks.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule. In certain areas of Colorado, local ordinances may allow for common consumption areas, where individuals are permitted to gather and consume alcoholic beverages purchased from nearby licensed establishments. These areas are designated by local laws, so it is important to check the regulations in your specific location.

Additionally, Colorado's open container laws do not apply to vehicles used for transportation for compensation, such as taxis or buses, or to living quarters in motor homes, house coaches, or house trailers. In these cases, passengers but not drivers, are permitted to consume and possess alcohol. It is important to note that many taxi and bus companies have their own policies prohibiting alcohol consumption in their vehicles.

When it comes to private vehicles, Colorado's open container laws apply to both drivers and passengers. It is illegal to consume alcohol or possess open containers of alcohol in the passenger area of a private vehicle, regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion or parked on a public road. This includes any area that is readily accessible to the driver or passengers, such as the front and back seats, glove compartment, and seatback pockets. To comply with the law, any open containers of alcohol must be stored in the trunk or an inaccessible area of the vehicle.

Violating Colorado's open container laws can result in penalties. If you are found to be in possession of an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, it is considered a class A traffic infraction, punishable by a fine of $50 plus a surcharge. If you are found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, you may face additional criminal DUI charges, including jail time, fines, license suspension, and increased insurance costs.

In summary, while Colorado allows the sale and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises and private residences, open containers of alcohol are not permitted outside these designated areas. It is important to be aware of and comply with the state's open container laws to avoid legal consequences.

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