The U.S. is filled with strange laws, and the world of beer is not immune. In fact, in the states I’m familiar with, they are some of the most incomprehensible, nonsensical laws one could imagine. Many were created just after Prohibition, when almost every state rewrote their alcohol laws. And some are more modern, showing quite clearly that we have learned little in the intervening 75 years.
Of course, there are many of these odd laws that I don’t know about and, happily, Carolyn Smagalski has filled in some of the blanks. Carol writes a terrific column on beer at BellaOnline, a website for women. Here is her list of some of the quirkier ones by state:
Silly Beer Laws by U.S. State: A-M
Silly Beer Laws by U.S. State: N-Z
If you know of any others in your state, please let me know. I think I’ll start keeping a list.
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August 29th, 2007 at 11:01 am
A bit of an odd list in that it includes many of the non-prohibitionist rules not barring minors in some states from drinking under supervision.
August 29th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Geez, Jay, you finally get a babe on your blog and the picture is so small you can hardly see her. I vote for a bigger picture!
Tom
August 30th, 2007 at 8:24 am
I know for a fact some of those so’called laws are not correct. E.g., there is no blanket ban on off-premise sales on Sunday in Illinois, and one can order a beer at a bar and carry it to a table in Indiana. I have done both on many an occasion, in places that uphold other arcana laws (no children in the bar area of brewpubs in Indiana, for example).
September 1st, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Mississippi: Each county is dry unless they specifically vote to go wet. Some states are completely wet, some beer and light wine only, some can sell beer but only warm, not cold.
The worst is the statewide ban on any beer above 6% ABV. Keep in mind any wine and liquer can be sold, but no beer above 6%.