#statelaws

A mildly paranoid citizen of Colorado uses personal research to explain the difference between State and Federal laws. From pizza laws in Iowa, to pot laws in states where it's legal, we learn what happens when a state dissents. 

Pic by Jamie @flickr

Laws governing alcohol have always varied state by state with some more restrictive than others. Whether they are blue laws prohibiting sales of alcohol on Sundays and in some cases across whole dry counties, or less strict laws where the sale of hard alcohol is restricted to state-run liquor stores, states love to legislated the hooch. While most people are familiar with these types of drinking laws, here are five more state drinking laws that just might surprise you…

1. Not So Happy Hour

Although happiness is not illegal, in 10 states including Massachusetts, Vermont, Utah, Delaware, Utah, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Indiana, Hawaii and Alaska, happy hours are banned. The laws were passed in these states in an effort to curb drunk driving, although the jury is still out on whether these laws have actually helped to do so. The ban on happy hours centers around not giving alcohol at a discount or away for free in deals like 2 for 1, but many establishments in these states are still able to offer happy hours, as long as it’s only for food discounts.

2. Strong Beer is Warm Beer

Until 2015, there was an Oklahoma law stating that any beer stronger than 3.2% alcohol must be sold at room temperature. So if you were looking to buy a six-pack of cold craft beer on your way home from work, you would be SOL in the OK. However, with strong support from the craft beer industry and many lawmakers, the law was overturned in April of 2015. This was especially important to craft breweries, many of which had previously refused to ship their beer to Oklahoma because they felt that the beer quality would be compromised when not refrigerated at the proper temperature. This is a win for Okies everywhere who love good beer.

3. Horseback DUI

That’s right, in states such as Colorado and even here in California, it’s illegal to ride a horse on a public road while drunk. This law is aimed at the fact that horse and riders can cause major problems on roadways if not handled properly, but it does leave the question…if the horse isn’t drunk, then isn’t he your designated driver? In fact, a well-trained horse might be the first driverless vehicles around...suck it Google.

Pic by Anita Ritenour

4. No Touch in Nebraska

This law is all about protecting patrons at bars and restaurants. In Nebraska it’s illegal for bar owners or employees to touch patrons. No hugging, kissing or patting anywhere near their “no-no square.” Not sure how this applies to spouses or girlfriends/boyfriends, but we are pretty that this law isn’t super enforced around the state.

Pic by zenjazzygeek

5. How Young is Too Young?

This is truly the most surprising of the drinking laws that we found…In 8 states including, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming it’s actually legal for underage patrons to drink alcohol in a bar or restaurant as long as they are with their parents. Here in California, there is no serving to minors in any respect and it’s actually illegal to even serve alcohol to your kids in your own home. Being a brewery, this law leaves us skeptical of the wisdom of letting parents decide whether their kids should be drinking at such an establishment. However, with a California initiative to lower the drinking age coming up on the ballot in November, the question of how young is too young to imbibe is a hot topic. Will lowering the drinking age help to curb bing drinking or will it increase young and drunk 18 year olds out on the bar scene? It’s hard to say but get out and vote either way in November.

Clean Indoor Air Act - Regulation of Smoking in Public and Work Places

§ 12. Violations of health laws or regulations; penalties and injunctions.