March/April 2010 Issue

The 12 Weirdest Liquor Laws in America

Don’t you dare try to ride a horse under the influence in Colorado, run up a tab in Iowa, or drink a cold beer in Oklahoma.


Texas isn’t the only state with weird liquor laws. All over the country, “blue laws,” originally intended to keep Christian citizens on the straight and narrow, are still on the books. Did we forget one? Tell us about your state or town’s laws in the comments below.

To read about the law in Texas that allows officers to arrest people for public intoxication inside bars, click here.

 

Alabama

No beer bottles bigger than 16 ounces. Wine labels may not be “immodest or sensuous”—one with a naked, bike-riding nymph is banned.

Source: Cycles Gladiator

Alaska

No alcohol sales between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Photo by Flickr user Steffe (Creative Commons)

Arizona

Drive-through liquor stores? No problem.

Photo by Flickr user ahockley (Creative Commons)

Colorado

Illegal to ride a horse under the influence.

Photo by Picasa user David

Florida

Boozing may be prohibited during hurricanes.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Georgia

Public drunkenness is illegal, but drinking in public is fine.

Photo by Flickr user koffiemetkoek (Creative Commons)

Iowa

Sorry, no running tabs.

Photo by Flickr user Simon Crowley (Creative Commons)

Massachusetts

No happy hours allowed.

Photo by Flickr user ell brown (Creative Commons)

New Hampshire

State-run liquor stores conveniently located at highway rest stops.

Photo by Flickr user Fiasco NY (Creative Commons)

Oklahoma

Stores must sell alcoholic drinks at room temperature.

Photo by Flickr user Tambako the Jaguar (Creative Commons)

South Carolina

No liquor sold on election day.

Photo by Flickr user mr adam g (Creative Commons)

Texas

Anyone under 21 can drink if they’re with their parents—or spouse.

Photo by Flickr user cytoon (Creative Commons)

 

 

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