Buying Beer In Kansas: Sunday Shopping Laws Explained

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, with a long history of prohibition. The state prohibited the sale of alcohol from 1881 to 1948, and continued to ban on-premises liquor sales until 1987. While Kansas is not a dry state, it does have one dry county where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited. The state's complex alcohol laws vary by county and city, with different rules for on-premise and off-premise locations, and some counties have additional requirements for food sales. So, what time can you buy beer in Kansas on a Sunday? Off-premise beer sales are permitted from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays, while on-premise sales are allowed from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Beer sales on Sundays in Kansas are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m

The laws regarding alcohol sales in Kansas are some of the strictest in the United States. Kansas had statewide prohibition from 1881 to 1948, longer than any other state, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. The state's strict and highly regulated approach to alcohol is a lingering result of its long era of prohibition.

In May, Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill allowing the sale of beer and alcohol to begin at 9 a.m. on Sundays. The law requires cities and counties to modify their existing ordinances to authorise the Sunday morning sales if they wish. The law also permanently allows the sale of to-go and drive-thru alcohol, which is hoped to provide relief to the restaurant and bar industry that began relying more heavily on takeout sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's important to note that Kansas has dry counties, where alcohol sales are prohibited. Additionally, state law prohibits retailers from selling alcohol on certain holidays, including Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Kansas has 3 dry counties where alcohol sales are prohibited

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state had a long period of prohibition, from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987.

Kansas has a total of 105 counties, which are divided into three categories: 30% food sales requirement, no food sales requirement, and no alcohol by the drink. As of March 2023, there is only one dry county in Kansas, where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted. However, other sources state that there are three dry counties in Kansas: Wallace, Stanton, and Haskell. These counties are considered completely dry, meaning that no alcohol can be purchased.

Kansas's strict approach to alcohol regulation is a result of its long history of prohibition. The state was the first in the US to enact a statewide constitutional prohibition on alcohol in 1881, influenced by the temperance movement, which was particularly strong in Kansas due to the presence of Puritans and the association between the temperance movement and the abolitionist movement.

Even after the Twenty-first Amendment ended nationwide prohibition in 1933, Kansas voters rejected a proposal to end statewide prohibition and regulate and tax liquor instead. It wasn't until 1948 that voters approved an amendment to the Kansas Constitution, authorizing the legislature to regulate, license, and tax the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor. However, the sale of liquor by the drink in bars and restaurants was still prohibited until 1986, when the Kansas Constitution was amended again to allow it.

Today, Kansas's alcohol laws continue to be highly regulated, with restrictions on days and hours of sale, locations where alcohol can be purchased, and the types of alcohol that can be sold.

Alcohol sales are prohibited on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. Alcohol sales are prohibited on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. This applies to all retailers, including liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations. In addition, there are dry counties in Kansas where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer may be permitted.

On days when alcohol sales are permitted, retailers can sell alcohol between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. in Kansas. Local counties that sell alcohol on Sundays are not allowed to do so after 8 p.m. This means that on Sundays, alcohol can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in off-premise locations, such as liquor stores, and from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. in on-premise locations, such as bars and restaurants.

The laws regarding alcohol sales in Kansas have been gradually relaxed in recent years. For example, in 2019, the state allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell "full-strength" beer with up to 6% alcohol. In 2021, Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill allowing the sale of beer and alcohol to begin at 9 a.m. on Sundays, instead of the previous restriction of noon.

It's important to note that the laws regarding alcohol sales can vary from county to county within Kansas. For instance, in 2023, Johnson County voters repealed the liquor-by-the-drink law, which had required businesses serving alcohol to generate 30% of their sales from food.

Alcohol sales are allowed in Kansas from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. Alcohol sales are allowed in Kansas from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays (Monday to Saturday). However, there are some exceptions and additional rules to be aware of. Firstly, these hours refer to off-premise sales, which means licensed retailers such as liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations. On-premise sales, which refer to bars and restaurants, can sell alcohol from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day, including Sundays.

In March 2023, Kansas had one dry county where on-premises liquor sales were prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer was permitted. Additionally, there are specific days when alcohol sales are prohibited in Kansas, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Local counties that sell alcohol on Sundays are not allowed to do so after 8 p.m.

The laws regarding alcohol sales in Kansas have been gradually changing over the years, with the state rolling back Prohibition-era liquor regulations. For example, in 2019, Kansas made a significant change by allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell "full-strength" beer with up to 6% alcohol.

It's important to note that the legal drinking age in Kansas is 21, and there are strict laws and consequences for drinking and driving, with a maximum blood alcohol level of .08% for persons over 21 and .02% for those under 21.

Alcohol by-the-drink was prohibited in Kansas until 1987

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state prohibited the sale of alcohol from 1881 to 1948, longer than any other state, and continued to prohibit the sale of alcohol by the drink in public places until 1987.

The temperance movement in Kansas was influenced by several factors, including the influx of Puritan immigrants, the perception of saloons as divisive spaces that were only open to men, and the association of the temperance movement with the abolitionist movement. In 1880, Kansas voters approved an amendment to the state constitution, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of "intoxicating liquors" from 1881 onwards. This amendment made Kansas the first state to enact a constitutional prohibition on alcohol.

During the era of nationwide prohibition, which lasted from 1919 to 1933, alcohol was prohibited in Kansas by both state and federal law. Even after the Twenty-first Amendment ended nationwide prohibition in 1933, Kansas continued to have strict alcohol regulations. In 1937, the state defined beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% or less as a "cereal malt beverage" (CMB), excluding it from the definition of "intoxicating liquor". This allowed for the sale of CMB for on- and off-premises consumption.

In 1948, Kansas voters approved another amendment to the state constitution, this time authorizing the regulation, licensing, and taxation of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor. However, the amendment also deemed the open saloon "forever prohibited," which meant that while package (off-premises) liquor sales could be authorized, the sale of liquor by the drink in public places remained prohibited.

It wasn't until 1986 that the electorate voted to repeal the prohibition on open saloons, effective January 1, 1987. The Legislature amended the Liquor Control Act to regulate and license alcohol sales in bars, but only in counties that had approved the 1986 amendment and in towns with a population of more than 11,000 (lowered to 5,000 in 2000). While Sunday sales of liquor were prohibited, the sale of CMB was permitted in restaurants deriving more than 30% of their profits from food. These establishments were subject to a 10% "drink tax".

The history of alcohol regulation in Kansas has had a significant impact on the state's approach to alcohol, even in more recent times. The state's strict and highly regulated approach to alcohol is a result of the lingering effects of its long era of prohibition. As of 2023, Kansas has one dry county where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is allowed.

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