The Weirdest Drinking Laws in the U.S. – You Won’t Believe #4
A few weeks back, we sent out a newsletter about how happy hour is illegal in some states, and it became our most-read email yet.
So instead of using this newsletter to sell you on Party Place (great platform btw), we’re giving the people what they want—more bizarre drinking laws you never knew existed.
Here are ten of the strangest alcohol laws in the U.S.
1. In Indiana, grocery stores can’t sell cold beer
📜 Law: Indiana Code § 7.1-5-10-11
In Indiana, only liquor stores can sell chilled beer. If you grab a six-pack from a gas station or supermarket, it has to be warm. This law exists to make liquor stores the go-to spot for alcohol purchases.
2. In Texas, you can’t take more than three sips of beer while standing (maybe)
📜 Law: Old Texas Blue Law (not enforced, though its existence is debatable)
One of Texas’s many outdated alcohol laws states that it’s illegal to take more than three sips of beer while standing. While you won’t actually get arrested for it, it’s a funny remnant of old prohibition-era regulations meant to curb public drunkenness.
3. In Alaska, it is illegal to be drunk in a bar
📜 Law: Alaska Statute § 04.16.040
It’s illegal in Alaska for a visibly intoxicated person to remain in a bar. This means that if a bartender thinks you’ve had too much, they’re not just cutting you off—they can legally kick you out of the bar entirely.
4. In Louisiana, you can get a drive-thru daiquiri… but don’t put the straw in
📜 Law: Louisiana R.S. 32:300
Yes, drive-thru daiquiri shops exist. But the drink has to be in a sealed container, meaning the lid can’t have a straw already inserted. Once the straw is in, it’s considered an open container—which would make it illegal to have in the car.
5. In North Carolina, no alcohol sales on Sunday before noon
📜 Law: North Carolina General Statutes § 18B-1004(c)
If you’re in North Carolina and craving a mimosa with brunch, you’ll have to wait. Until recently, alcohol sales on Sundays were banned until noon. Some places now allow drinks starting at 10 AM—but only if local laws permit it.
6. In Pennsylvania, happy hour is legal… but only for 14 hours per week
📜 Law: Pennsylvania Liquor Code § 13.102
Yes, you can have happy hour in Pennsylvania, but bars can only offer discounts for up to four hours a day and no more than 14 hours per week. So, if your local bar runs an extended happy hour one day, it has to cut back another day to stay legal.
7. In Massachusetts, BYOB is banned in many cities
📜 Law: Massachusetts General Laws c.138 § 12
While BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) is common at restaurants in many states, cities like Boston and Cambridge ban it entirely for restaurants without a liquor license. That means even if a place doesn’t serve alcohol, they legally can’t let you bring your own.
8. In Utah, bartenders had to mix drinks behind a wall until 2017
📜 Law: Utah Code § 32B-5-305
Ever heard of the Zion Curtain? Until recently, bars in Utah had to prepare drinks behind an opaque partition so customers wouldn’t see alcohol being poured. Lawmakers thought that watching a drink being made might encourage underage drinking.
9. In South Carolina, you used to only be able to order cocktails in mini bottles
📜 Law: Repealed in 2006, but originally South Carolina Code § 61-6-110
Until 2006, bartenders in South Carolina could only serve liquor from mini airplane-sized bottles. This meant no free pouring, and bars often overcharged for cocktails since they had to open a new mini bottle for every drink. The law was finally overturned when bar owners pushed back against the waste and cost.
10. In Colorado, beer over 3.2% ABV was illegal in grocery stores until 2019
📜 Law: Colorado Liquor Code (revised in 2019)
For decades, Colorado only allowed grocery stores to sell beer with a maximum of 3.2% ABV—basically, watered-down beer. If you wanted anything stronger, you had to go to a liquor store. This law finally changed in 2019, but for years, anyone new to Colorado would be confused about why their grocery store beer tasted so weak.
P.S. Notice something missing?
That’s right—New York didn’t make the list. No weird happy hour bans, no drive-thru daiquiri loopholes, no warm beer rules. Just endless bars, rooftops, and speakeasies waiting for your next night out.
So, grab your friends and let Party Place make it easy to book—no weird laws, just good times. 🍻🎉
