Buying Beer On Election Day: What's The Legal Stand?

In the US, citizens were previously banned from purchasing alcohol on Election Day. This pre-Prohibition law was intended to reduce corruption and bribery during elections, as candidates often used alcohol to persuade undecided voters. Maryland was the first state to establish this ban in 1811, and other states followed suit. However, as of 2014, only certain parts of Alaska, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico still have Election Day dry laws in place. In New Mexico, for example, liquor sales are allowed on Election Day and have been for nearly two decades.

The ban on buying beer on election day was introduced to prevent candidates from using alcohol to persuade undecided voters

In the United States, there was a time when an age-old law banned citizens from buying alcohol on Election Day. This law was introduced to prevent candidates from using alcohol to sway undecided voters.

Maryland was the first state to establish an Election Day alcohol ban in 1811, with several other states following suit. However, over the years, most states have repealed this law. North Carolina rolled it back in 2013, and South Carolina became the last mainland state to officially repeal the ban in June 2014. As of 2023, only certain parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Massachusetts have Election Day dry laws in place.

The history of the ban on buying beer on Election Day dates back to the pre-Prohibition era, when saloons served as polling places. Candidates, including George Washington, allegedly provided free-flowing liquor to influence undecided voters. The ban was, therefore, intended to police the candidates rather than the citizens.

While the ban on alcohol sales on Election Day has been lifted in most of the United States, it is still enforced in some countries, particularly in Latin America. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela have their own versions of "dry laws," prohibiting the sale and public consumption of alcohol before, during, and after elections.

The ban was first introduced in Maryland in 1811

In the United States, an age-old law banned citizens from buying alcohol on Election Day. The ban was first introduced in Maryland in 1811, making it the first state to establish an Election Day alcohol ban.

The law was implemented because candidates often used alcohol to persuade undecided voters, with George Washington allegedly being guilty of this tactic. Following Maryland's decision, several other states also implemented the ban. However, over the years, most states repealed the law, with South Carolina being the last mainland state to officially roll it back in June 2014.

As of January 2023, only certain parts of the United States, including some areas of Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Massachusetts, still have Election Day dry laws in place. While the ban is no longer in effect in most parts of the country, it is important to check local government rules, as they can vary.

The United States is not alone in restricting alcohol sales on election days. Several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, still enforce such restrictions.

The last state to repeal the ban was South Carolina in 2014

In the United States, citizens were previously banned from purchasing alcohol on Election Day. This ban was introduced because candidates often used alcohol to persuade undecided voters, a tactic that George Washington was allegedly guilty of employing. The first state to establish an Election Day alcohol ban was Maryland in 1811, and many other states followed suit.

Over the years, however, the majority of states have repealed this law. South Carolina was the last state to repeal the ban in 2014, allowing citizens to once again purchase alcohol at restaurants, stores, and bars on polling days. As of 2023, only certain areas still have Election Day dry laws in place, including parts of Puerto Rico, some jurisdictions in Alaska, and some parts of Massachusetts.

Only certain parts of Alaska, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico still have Election Day dry laws in place

In the US, an age-old law banned citizens from purchasing alcohol on Election Day. This was because candidates often used alcohol to persuade undecided voters—something George Washington was allegedly guilty of doing. Maryland was the first US state to establish an Election Day alcohol ban in 1811, and many other states followed suit. However, over the years, most states have repealed the ban. As of January 2023, only certain parts of Alaska, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico still have Election Day dry laws in place. So, if you live in one of these places, check your municipality's website or call your local bar or liquor store before heading out for a drink on Election Day.

In Alaska, dry laws are still in place in some jurisdictions. In Massachusetts, dry laws are still in effect in certain parts of the state. In Puerto Rico, there is a "dry law" in effect from 6 am to 6 pm on Election Day, meaning that alcohol cannot be sold or served in restaurants, stores, or bars during those hours.

While Election Day dry laws have been repealed in most US states, several Latin American countries still strictly enforce such laws, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Some bars and restaurants offer free or discounted drinks to those who show off their voting stickers

Election Day is a popular time for people to head to their local bars and restaurants, either to celebrate or mourn the results, or to help them deal with the stress of the election. Many bars and restaurants have caught on to this and offer discounts and promotions to those who show off their voting stickers. However, this is technically illegal. The Federal Election Commission bans any kind of reward for voting when federal candidates are on the ballot, regardless of how non-partisan the promotion is.

Despite this, many restaurants continue to offer promotions to voters each year. Some get around the law by promoting free food or drinks for anyone "wearing a sticker", not specifying that it must be an "I Voted" sticker. Others simply offer the promotion anyway, and smaller, local restaurants are unlikely to catch the attention of the Justice Department.

Some examples of promotions offered by restaurants and bars include:

• Free fries with any purchase at Shake Shack when using the code "ivoted" on the Shack App or by showing your "I Voted" sticker
• A free cookie with purchase at Potbelly Sandwich Shop; there is no requirement to vote to receive the deal, but their Twitter account states that "you should"
• Free coffee at Corner Bakery Cafe for those who show an "I Voted" sticker
• A free cupcake from Baked by Melissa for those who show an "I Voted" sticker in-store, or 10% off online orders
• Free drip coffee at Birch Coffee for anyone wearing an "I Voted" sticker

Although the sale of alcohol on Election Day is now allowed in most states, it wasn't always this way. For a long time, an age-old law banned US citizens from purchasing alcohol on Election Day. This law was introduced because candidates often used alcohol to persuade undecided voters, a tactic that George Washington was allegedly guilty of. Maryland was the first US state to establish an Election Day alcohol ban in 1811, and over the years, several other states followed suit. However, in recent years, many states have decided to repeal the ban.

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