When To Buy Beer In Kansas On Sundays

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 restrict on-premises liquor sales until 1987. Kansas's strict approach to alcohol is a result of its history with the temperance movement. While the state is not dry, it has 105 counties that are divided into three categories: 30% food sales requirement, no food sales requirement, and no alcohol by the drink. So, what time can you buy beer in Kansas on a Sunday?

Kansas is not a dry state, but it does have one dry county

Kansas's one dry county is Wallace County, where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited. However, the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted in this county. 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. Out of these, 63 counties require a 30% food sales requirement with the purchase of alcohol, and 39 counties have no such requirement. Only three counties are completely dry, including Wallace County, Stanton, and Haskell.

The sale of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages (CMB) in Kansas is regulated by the Kansas Department of Revenue Alcoholic Beverage Control. The statutory hours for sales of alcoholic liquor or CMB are Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 11 pm. On Sundays, off-premise locations can sell alcoholic beverages from 9 am to 8 pm. On-premise locations can sell alcoholic beverages from 9 am to 2 am any day of the week.

Beer can be bought in Kansas at bars, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, and breweries or taprooms

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

In 2023, Kansas had one dry county, where on-premises liquor sales were prohibited but the sale of 3.2% beer was allowed. In 2024, this dry county is reported to be Wallace County.

Kansas has a three-tier liquor distribution system. Alcohol is distributed from the manufacturer to the distributor to the retailer. The exceptions are farm wineries and microbreweries, which can sell directly to the consumer.

Retail liquor stores are licensed by the state, and Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) retailers are licensed by the city or county. CMB refers to beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% or less by weight.

Beer can be bought in Kansas at bars and restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, and breweries or taprooms. However, there are some restrictions and requirements in place.

Bars and restaurants can sell beer as long as they have the relevant license and derive 30% of gross sales from food. They can sell beer any day between 9 am and 2 am.

Gas stations and grocery stores can sell beer, but it must be 6% ABV or below. These sales are for off-premise consumption.

Liquor stores can sell beer, but only with a CMB license provided by the city or county. They can sell beer Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 11 pm, and on Sundays from 9 am to 8 pm.

Breweries and taprooms can sell beer like bars and restaurants, as long as 30% of gross sales come from food. They can sell cans, bottles, and drafts of any ABV for off-premise use.

It is important to note that the above information is subject to change and may not be exhaustive. The laws and regulations regarding alcohol sales and consumption can vary by city and county in Kansas.

Kansas has strict alcohol laws, including a ban on drinking and driving

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, which is in sharp contrast to its neighbouring state of Missouri. The state's strict approach to alcohol is a result of its long history of prohibition. From 1881 to 1948, Kansas had statewide prohibition, longer than any other state. It continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987.

Kansas's alcohol laws are enforced by the Kansas Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The state has a three-tier liquor distribution system, with alcohol being distributed from manufacturer to distributor to retailer. There are some exceptions to this system, such as farm wineries and microbreweries, which are allowed to sell directly to consumers.

The sale of alcohol in Kansas is regulated differently depending on the type of alcohol and the location of the sale. The state categorises alcohol into six types, each with its own regulations. These categories include "alcoholic liquor", "cereal malt beverage" (CMB), "nonalcoholic malt beverage", "domestic table wine", "domestic fortified wine", and "domestic beer".

Retail liquor stores in Kansas are licensed by the state, while CMB retailers are licensed by the city or county. Retail liquor stores can sell a variety of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, spirits, and nonalcoholic malt beverages. On the other hand, CMB retailers are restricted to selling only CMB or nonalcoholic malt beverages.

The operating hours for alcohol sales also vary depending on the day of the week and the type of establishment. Off-premise beer sales can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, off-premise sales are allowed from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. On-premise beer sales, where customers consume beer on-site, can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. any day of the week.

In addition to these regulations, Kansas has strict laws regarding drinking and driving. The state's maximum blood alcohol level for driving is .08% for individuals over the age of 21 and 0.02% for adults under the age of 21. Driving under the influence (DUI) is a crime in Kansas and can result in jail time, community service, fines, and license suspension, among other penalties.

Kansas previously prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays until noon

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

Until recently, Kansas prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays until noon. This was a remaining vestige of Kansas’ alcohol regulations dating back to the 1880s, when it became the first state in the country to write prohibition into its constitution. In 2021, Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill allowing the sale of beer and alcohol to begin at 9 a.m. on Sundays. The law requires that cities and counties modify their existing ordinances to authorise the Sunday morning sales, if they wish.

Kansas law divides alcohol into six categories, each of which is regulated differently. "Alcoholic liquor" includes spirits, wine, and beer containing over 3.2% alcohol by weight; spirits are defined as any distilled alcoholic beverage, including brandy, rum, whiskey, and gin, among others. A "cereal malt beverage" or "CMB" is beer containing 3.2% or less alcohol by weight. A "nonalcoholic malt beverage" is beer containing less than 0.5% alcohol by weight. "Domestic table wine" is wine containing 14% or less alcohol by volume, manufactured by Kansas farm wineries from Kansas-grown products. "Domestic fortified wine" is wine containing between 14% and 20% alcohol by volume, also made in Kansas. "Domestic beer" is beer containing 8% or less alcohol by weight and is manufactured by microbreweries from Kansas-grown agricultural products.

Kansas is not a dry state, but it does have one dry county, where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted. Sixty-three of Kansas' 105 counties require 30% food sales with the purchase of alcohol, and the remaining 39 counties do not require an accompanying food purchase.

Alcohol cannot be sold in Kansas on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, or Christmas

In the state of Kansas, there are specific restrictions on the sale of alcohol on certain holidays, including Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. These restrictions are in place due to the state's liquor laws, which dictate the days and hours when alcoholic beverages can be sold and served.

On Easter Sunday, which is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the sale of alcohol is prohibited in Kansas. This means that stores, restaurants, and bars are not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages on this day. The restriction is in place for the entire day, from midnight to midnight.

Thanksgiving, a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, also falls under the alcohol sales restrictions in Kansas. Similarly to Easter Sunday, no alcohol can be sold or served in the state on Thanksgiving Day. This includes both packaged liquor stores and establishments serving alcohol by the drink, such as restaurants and bars.

Christmas, celebrated on December 25th, is another day when alcohol sales are prohibited in Kansas. The restriction applies to the entire day, and no alcohol can be sold or served in stores, restaurants, or any other establishments.

It's important to note that these restrictions apply to the sale of alcohol and not possession or consumption. Individuals are still allowed to purchase alcohol on the days preceding these holidays and consume it on the holiday itself. However, it is illegal to sell or serve alcohol on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in the state of Kansas.

These restrictions are in place to promote public safety and responsible drinking practices during significant holidays. While they may impact the operations of businesses that sell alcohol, many communities in Kansas observe these dry days as a tradition and a way to focus on the celebratory aspects of the holidays without the involvement of alcoholic beverages.

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