Ottawa's Sunday Beer Buying Hours Explained

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state prohibited the sale of alcohol from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. In 2023, Kansas had one dry county, Wallace County, where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited. However, the sale of 3.2% beer is permitted in the county. In April 2023, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill that included several changes to state alcohol laws, including the expansion of common consumption areas in the state. This would allow for local governments to have more flexibility in designating areas for drinking. The new law also removes the requirement that a city or county must block off portions of common consumption areas on public streets or roadways during events. So, when can you buy beer on a Sunday in Ottawa, KS? Let's find out.

Beer can be bought on Sundays in Ottawa, Kansas, from 9 am onwards

In July 2019, Kansas relaxed its laws, allowing retailers to sell beer from 9 am onwards on Sundays. This change was part of a gradual rollback of Prohibition-era liquor regulations in the state. The new law also made it permanent for the sale of to-go and drive-thru alcohol.

While beer can be purchased from 9 am onwards on Sundays in Kansas, there are still some restrictions in place. For example, state law prohibits retailers from selling alcohol on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Additionally, individual establishments may have their own restrictions or hours of alcohol service. It's important to note that Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, and these laws can vary from county to county.

In Ottawa, Kansas, specifically, beer can be bought at various locations, including bars and restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and liquor stores. 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. Liquor stores typically sell beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic malt beverages and are licensed by the state.

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the US

Kansas's strict approach to alcohol is a result of its history with the temperance movement. The movement was strengthened by the presence of Puritans in the territory, the perception of saloons as divisive to families, and its association with the abolitionist movement.

The state's alcohol laws are enforced by the Kansas Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Kansas law divides alcohol into six categories, each regulated differently. These categories are based on alcohol content and include "alcoholic liquor," "cereal malt beverage" (or CMB), "nonalcoholic malt beverage", "domestic table wine", "domestic fortified wine", and "domestic beer."

Off-premise beer sales in Kansas can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays. On-premise beer sales can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. any day. Alcohol sales are prohibited on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Kansas has a three-tier liquor distribution system, where alcohol is distributed from manufacturer to distributor to retailer. There are some exceptions, such as farm wineries and microbreweries, which can sell directly to consumers.

Retail liquor stores have strict licensing requirements. Licensees must be US citizens for 10 years, Kansas residents for 4 years, and at least 21 years old. They cannot have any felony convictions or prior license revocations, among other qualifications. Retail liquor stores can sell beer, wine, spirits, and nonalcoholic malt beverages.

Kansas has dry counties where alcohol sales are prohibited. As of March 2023, Wallace County was the only completely dry county, with three others—Stanton and Haskell—allowing only the sale of 3.2% beer. Sixty-three of Kansas's 105 counties require 30% food sales with the purchase of alcohol, while the remaining 39 do not require an accompanying food purchase.

The state previously prohibited the sale of beer on Sundays entirely

Kansas has historically had some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state previously prohibited the sale of beer on Sundays entirely, with restrictions on Sunday sales dating back to the 1880s when Kansas became the first state to write prohibition into its constitution. In 1880, Kansas voters approved an amendment to the Kansas Constitution prohibiting the manufacture and sale of "intoxicating liquors" in the state. This marked the beginning of Kansas's long era of statewide prohibition, which lasted until 1948.

It wasn't until July 2019 that Kansas relaxed its laws regarding Sunday alcohol sales. The new legislation allowed retailers to sell beer starting at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays, providing more flexibility for consumers. This change was part of a gradual rollback of Prohibition-era liquor regulations in the state.

In April 2023, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2059, which included several changes to the state's alcohol laws. One of the key features of the bill was the removal of a requirement that retailers must sell alcohol on Sundays only if food made up at least 30% of their sales. This amendment provided more flexibility for businesses, particularly those with only a Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) license, to sell alcoholic products on Sundays.

While Kansas has made significant progress in loosening its alcohol regulations, it is important to note that individual cities and counties have the authority to impose more restrictive hours for alcoholic liquor and CMB sales. Additionally, state law still prohibits retailers from selling alcohol on certain holidays, including Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

There are no restrictions on the quantity of beer purchased on Sundays

Kansas has a long history of strict alcohol laws, with statewide prohibition in place from 1881 to 1948—the longest of any state. Even after prohibition ended, Kansas continued to prohibit general on-premises liquor sales until 1987. While the state's laws have loosened over time, they remain among the strictest in the US.

In 2019, Kansas relaxed its laws regarding Sunday alcohol sales, allowing retailers to sell beer starting at 9:00 a.m. Previously, Kansas prohibited the sale of beer on Sundays entirely. This change provides consumers with greater flexibility when purchasing beer on Sundays. Importantly, there are no restrictions on the quantity of beer purchased on Sundays in Kansas.

Kansas law divides alcohol into six categories, each with distinct regulations. "Alcoholic liquor" includes spirits, wine, and beer containing over 3.2% alcohol by weight. Spirits encompass beverages like brandy, rum, whiskey, and gin. A "cereal malt beverage" (CMB) is defined as beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% or less by weight. A "nonalcoholic malt beverage" contains less than 0.5% alcohol by weight. "Domestic table wine" is produced in Kansas from local ingredients and has an alcohol content of 14% or less. "Domestic fortified wine" has an alcohol content between 14% and 20%. Lastly, "domestic beer" is manufactured by microbreweries using Kansas-grown agricultural products and has an alcohol content of 8% or less by weight.

The sale of alcoholic beverages in Kansas is regulated by state laws, and individual counties and cities can impose additional restrictions. For instance, some counties require that food makes up at least 30% of an establishment's sales in order to sell alcohol. Notably, Kansas has one dry county—Wallace County—where on-premises liquor sales are prohibited, but the sale of 3.2% beer is allowed.

While there are no quantity restrictions for beer purchases on Sundays in Kansas, it's important to be mindful of the state's drinking laws. The legal drinking age in Kansas is 21, and there are strict consequences for drinking and driving, with a maximum blood alcohol level of .08% for adults over 21 and .02% for those under.

Out-of-state visitors can buy beer on Sundays, adhering to age and quantity laws

Kansas has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States. The state prohibited the sale of beer on Sundays until 2019, when the law was amended to allow sales from 9:00 a.m. onwards. This change provides more flexibility for consumers, including out-of-state visitors, who can now buy beer on Sundays in Kansas as long as they adhere to the state's age and quantity laws.

The legal drinking and purchasing age for alcohol in Kansas is 21 years old. There is an exception for minors, who can drink beer with their parents' supervision and if the beer is purchased and directly given to them by their parents. The open container law in Kansas prohibits drinking outside of private buildings and licensed on-premises alcohol sellers. An open container is also prohibited inside any motor vehicle unless it is a licensed limousine or mass-transit vehicle.

On-premise beer sales in Kansas can be made from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. any day, including Sundays. Off-premise beer sales can be made Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. These sales are allowed at licensed retailers, including grocery stores, convenience stores, and liquor stores. There are no specific restrictions on the quantity of beer that can be purchased on Sundays.

It's important to note that individual establishments may have their own restrictions or hours of alcohol service, and some counties in Kansas have additional regulations. For example, in 2024, Governor Laura Kelly signed a bill that allowed for more bars to open on Sundays, removing the requirement that food must make up at least 30% of their sales.

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