Kansas Beer Laws: When Can You Buy?

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state had a long period of prohibition, lasting from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. Kansas's strict approach to alcohol is a lingering result of its history with the temperance movement. In this context, it is important to understand the regulations surrounding the sale and purchase of beer in the state.

Beer can be bought in Kansas Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 11 pm

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.

On Sundays, beer sales are different from weekdays for off-premise locations. In some cities and counties, beer can be bought on Sundays from 9 am to 8 pm. However, retailers that sell alcohol on Sundays are not allowed to do so after 8 pm.

There are also some days when beer sales are prohibited, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

In Kansas, beer can be purchased at various locations, including bars and restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, and breweries or taprooms. However, it's important to note that gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores can only sell beer with an alcohol content of 6% or lower.

Additionally, Kansas has dry counties where the sale of alcohol is prohibited. As of March 2023, there is one dry county, Wallace County, where on-premises liquor sales are banned, but the sale of 3.2% beer is allowed. There are also counties with different regulations, such as requiring 30% food sales with the purchase of alcohol or having no food sales requirement.

Beer sales are allowed on Sundays from 9 am to 8 pm

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. Even after this, Kansas continued to have strict rules around alcohol sales.

In 2023, Kansas had three completely dry counties—Wallace, Stanton, and Haskell—where no alcohol could be purchased. In 63 of the remaining counties, 30% of food sales had to accompany the purchase of alcohol, and in the other 39 counties, there was no requirement for accompanying food purchases.

In 2023, beer sales in Kansas were allowed from 9 am to 11 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 9 am to 2 am on any day in on-premise locations. However, beer sales on Sundays were previously prohibited before noon. In May 2021, Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill allowing the sale of beer and alcohol to begin at 9 am on Sundays. This bill also permanently allowed the sale of to-go and drive-thru alcohol.

Therefore, as of 2021, beer sales are allowed on Sundays from 9 am to 8 pm. This change in the law was a significant step in loosening Kansas's historically strict alcohol laws.

Beer can be bought at bars and 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 period of prohibition, lasting from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987.

Beer can be bought at various locations in Kansas, including bars and restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, liquor stores, and breweries or taprooms. However, there are some important restrictions to be aware of.

Firstly, the days and hours that beer can be sold vary depending on the type of establishment and the day of the week. Off-premise beer sales (i.e. where the beer is purchased to be consumed off-site) 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 (i.e. where the beer is consumed on-site) can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. any day of the week.

Secondly, the type of beer that can be sold depends on the type of establishment. Gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores can only sell beer with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 6% or lower. These establishments can sell beer on Sundays, but only if it is below 6% ABV.

Thirdly, some counties in Kansas have additional restrictions on the sale of alcohol. There are three categories of counties: those with a 30% food sales requirement, those with no food sales requirement, and those with no alcohol by the drink. In 2023, three counties—Wallace, Stanton, and Haskell—were completely dry, meaning no alcohol could be purchased there. Sixty-three counties required 30% food sales with the purchase of alcohol, and the remaining 39 counties did not require an accompanying food purchase.

Finally, it is important to note that retailers are prohibited from selling alcohol on certain holidays, including Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The legal drinking age in Kansas is 21, and there are strict laws and consequences for drinking and driving, especially for those under the age of 21.

Gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores can only sell beer with 6% ABV or below

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.

In 2019, the state made a significant change to its alcohol laws, allowing grocery and convenience stores, as well as gas stations, to sell beer with up to 6% alcohol by volume (ABV). This change brought Kansas more in line with other states, where beer is widely available in supermarkets and gas stations.

Previously, these retailers could only sell beer with 3.2% ABV or below, which is considered a "cereal malt beverage" (CMB) and is subject to different regulations than "alcoholic liquor".

This change in the law was part of a gradual rollback of Prohibition-era liquor regulations in Kansas. However, it is important to note that Kansas still has strict rules around alcohol sales, including prohibitions on selling alcohol on certain holidays and restrictions on the days and hours that alcohol can be sold.

The new law also allowed for the sale of to-go and drive-thru alcohol, providing a boost to the restaurant and bar industry, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kansas has dry counties where you cannot buy alcohol

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state had a long period of prohibition, lasting from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. Even today, Kansas has not ratified the Twenty-first Amendment, which ended nationwide prohibition in 1933.

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.

Three of these counties—Wallace, Stanton, and Haskell—are completely dry, meaning that on-premises liquor sales are prohibited. However, the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted in these counties.

Kansas's strict and highly regulated approach to alcohol is a result of its long history of prohibition. The temperance movement in the 19th century was particularly strong in Kansas, influenced by factors such as Puritan immigration and the association of saloons with male-only spaces, which were seen as divisive to families.

The movement to prohibit the sale of alcohol gained momentum in Kansas, with several towns enacting local liquor laws before statewide prohibition was implemented. In 1880, Kansas voters approved an amendment to prohibit the manufacture and sale of "intoxicating liquors", making Kansas the first state to enact a constitutional prohibition on alcohol.

Even after the end of 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 authorize 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 to allow it.

While Kansas as a whole is no longer a dry state, these dry counties continue to uphold the state's long history of strict alcohol regulations.

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