Blue Laws by State

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Introduction

Blue laws, or Sunday laws, are laws that limit commercial and entertainment activities on a certain day, typically Sunday, for religious observance and rest. Most often, blue laws bar the sale or purchase of alcohol. Though blue laws have a historically religious basis, therefore raising constitutional concerns under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, they were upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in the case of McGowan v. Maryland. The Court’s decision left the implementation and enactment of blue laws to each state. 

While most blue laws have been repealed in the country after the American War of Independence (1775-1783), there are still many states that have stricter regulations on alcohol and car sales on Sundays. Conversely, only five states (Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia) outlaw the sale of hard liquor. To add, ten states do not have state-wide blue laws, but allow each county to decide for itself.

Learn for yourself how blue laws change by state by investigating the data in the charts.

StateAlcohol Sunday RestrictionsDrinking Law ExceptionsConsumption of Distilled SpiritsAlcohol Tax
KansasLocal OptionNo Exceptions5,200,227 gal$13.03
ArkansasLocal OptionsNo Exceptions4,541,883 gal$8.41
ConnecticutLocal OptionsFamily Exceptions8,170,589 gal$5.4
FloridaLocal OptionsNo Exceptions51,085,736 gal$6.2
GeorgiaLocal OptionsFamily and Location Exceptions15,545,319 gal$6.5
IdahoLocal OptionsFamily and Location Exceptions3,402,467 gal$5.98
IllinoisLocal OptionsFamily Exceptions22,838,096 gal$10.91
KentuckyLocal OptionsNo Exceptions8,811,961 gal$2.5
LouisianaLocal OptionsFamily and Location Exceptions9,303,865 gal$8.33
MarylandLocal OptionsFamily and Location Exceptions11,879,812 gal$11.96
MassachusettsLocal OptionsFamily Exceptions16,499,058 gal$5.03
MichiganLocal OptionsNo Exceptions22,384,480 gal$11.95
NebraskaLocal OptionsLocation Exceptions2,899,600 gal$3.75
NevadaLocal OptionsFamily and Location Exceptions9,598,737 gal$3.6
New JerseyLocal OptionsLocation Exceptions21,723,609 gal$5.5
New MexicoLocal OptionsFamily and Location Exceptions3,373,702 gal$6.06
North DakotaLocal OptionsNo Exceptions2,180,687 gal$5.12
OhioLocal OptionsFamily Exceptions16,716,114 gal$9.83
OklahomaLocal OptionsLocation Exceptions5,363,479 gal$5.56
South DakotaLocal OptionsNo Exceptions1,372,167 gal$4.67
WashingtonLocal OptionsFamily Exceptions13,509,654 gal$33.22
West VirginiaLocal OptionsNo Exceptions2,079,221 gal$7.62
AlaskaNo RestrictionsFamily and Location Exceptions1,856,775 gal$12.8
ArizonaNo RestrictionsNo Exceptions12,170,354 gal$3
CaliforniaNo RestrictionsFamily and Location Exceptions75,177,380 gal$3.3
ColoradoNo RestrictionsFamily and Location Exceptions15,646,400 gal$2.28
MississippiNo RestrictionsFamily and Location Exceptions5,810,487 gal$8.11
MontanaNo RestrictionsFamily Exceptions2,481,481 gal$9.75
North CarolinaNo RestrictionsNo Exceptions16,762,721 gal$14.58
South CarolinaNo RestrictionsLocation Exceptions8,640,758 gal$5.42
TexasNo RestrictionsFamily Exceptions46,815,366 gal$2.4
UtahNo RestrictionsNo Exceptions3,798,510 gal$15.92
AlabamaRestrictedNo Exceptions7,820,520 gal$19.11
DelawareRestrictedFamily and Location Exceptions4,279,456 gal$4.5
HawaiiRestrictedFamily Exceptions2,346,738 gal$3.79
IndianaRestrictedNo Exceptions14,338,534 gal$8.55
IowaRestrictedFamily and Location Exceptions6,379,038 gal$2.68
MaineRestrictedFamily and Location Exceptions3,353,216 gal$3.03
MinnesotaRestrictedLocation Exceptions14,660,981 gal$9.01
MissouriRestrictedNo Exceptions14,905,584 gal$2
New YorkRestrictedFamily Exceptions34,658,345 gal$6.44
OregonRestrictedFamily and Location Exceptions9,042,428 gal$21.95
Rhode IslandRestrictedFamily Exceptions2,924,048 gal$5.4
TennesseeRestrictedNo Exceptions13,623,775 gal$4.46
VermontRestrictedNo Exceptions1,089,753 gal$7.68
WisconsinRestrictedFamily Exceptions16,868,513 gal$3.25
WyomingRestrictedFamily and Location Exceptions1,645,718 gal$0
New HampshireRestricted in Some LocationsNo Exceptions6,020,699 gal$0
PennsylvaniaRestricted in Some LocationsNo Exceptions17,668,252 gal$7.21
VirginiaRestricted in Some LocationsFamily and Location Exceptions13,645,830 gal$19.89
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Alcohol Sunday Restrictions by State

Alabama

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do_not_disturb_on

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

7,820,520 gal

Ranked in the US

#29

$19.11

Ranked in the US

#4

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Alaska

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Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

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No Restrictions

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

1,856,775 gal

Ranked in the US

#47

$12.8

Ranked in the US

#8

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Arizona

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add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

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No Restrictions

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

12,170,354 gal

Ranked in the US

#21

Ranked in the US

#44

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Arkansas

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add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

4,541,883 gal

Ranked in the US

#35

$8.41

Ranked in the US

#16

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

California

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add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

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No Restrictions

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

75,177,380 gal

Ranked in the US

#1

$3.3

Ranked in the US

#41

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Colorado

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add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

No Restrictions

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

15,646,400 gal

Ranked in the US

#13

$2.28

Ranked in the US

#48

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Connecticut

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add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

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Local Options

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

8,170,589 gal

Ranked in the US

#28

$5.4

Ranked in the US

#31

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Delaware

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add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

4,279,456 gal

Ranked in the US

#36

$4.5

Ranked in the US

#36

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Florida

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

51,085,736 gal

Ranked in the US

#2

$6.2

Ranked in the US

#25

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Georgia

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

15,545,319 gal

Ranked in the US

#14

$6.5

Ranked in the US

#22

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Hawaii

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

2,346,738 gal

Ranked in the US

#44

$3.79

Ranked in the US

#38

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Idaho

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

3,402,467 gal

Ranked in the US

#38

$5.98

Ranked in the US

#27

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Illinois

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add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

22,838,096 gal

Ranked in the US

#5

$10.91

Ranked in the US

#11

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Indiana

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

14,338,534 gal

Ranked in the US

#17

$8.55

Ranked in the US

#15

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Iowa

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

6,379,038 gal

Ranked in the US

#30

$2.68

Ranked in the US

#45

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Kansas

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Option

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

5,200,227 gal

Ranked in the US

#34

$13.03

Ranked in the US

#7

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Kentucky

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

8,811,961 gal

Ranked in the US

#26

$2.5

Ranked in the US

#46

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Louisiana

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

9,303,865 gal

Ranked in the US

#24

$8.33

Ranked in the US

#17

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Maine

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

3,353,216 gal

Ranked in the US

#40

$3.03

Ranked in the US

#43

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Maryland

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

11,879,812 gal

Ranked in the US

#22

$11.96

Ranked in the US

#9

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Massachusetts

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

16,499,058 gal

Ranked in the US

#12

$5.03

Ranked in the US

#34

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Michigan

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

22,384,480 gal

Ranked in the US

#6

$11.95

Ranked in the US

#10

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Minnesota

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

14,660,981 gal

Ranked in the US

#16

$9.01

Ranked in the US

#14

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Mississippi

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

No Restrictions

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

5,810,487 gal

Ranked in the US

#32

$8.11

Ranked in the US

#18

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Missouri

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

14,905,584 gal

Ranked in the US

#15

Ranked in the US

#49

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Montana

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

No Restrictions

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

2,481,481 gal

Ranked in the US

#43

$9.75

Ranked in the US

#13

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Nebraska

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

2,899,600 gal

Ranked in the US

#42

$3.75

Ranked in the US

#39

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Nevada

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

9,598,737 gal

Ranked in the US

#23

$3.6

Ranked in the US

#40

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

New Hampshire

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted in Some Locations

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

6,020,699 gal

Ranked in the US

#31

Ranked in the US

#50

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

New Jersey

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

21,723,609 gal

Ranked in the US

#7

$5.5

Ranked in the US

#29

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

New Mexico

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

3,373,702 gal

Ranked in the US

#39

$6.06

Ranked in the US

#26

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

New York

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

34,658,345 gal

Ranked in the US

#4

$6.44

Ranked in the US

#23

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

North Carolina

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

No Restrictions

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

16,762,721 gal

Ranked in the US

#10

$14.58

Ranked in the US

#6

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

North Dakota

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

2,180,687 gal

Ranked in the US

#45

$5.12

Ranked in the US

#33

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Ohio

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

16,716,114 gal

Ranked in the US

#11

$9.83

Ranked in the US

#12

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Oklahoma

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

5,363,479 gal

Ranked in the US

#33

$5.56

Ranked in the US

#28

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Oregon

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

9,042,428 gal

Ranked in the US

#25

$21.95

Ranked in the US

#2

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Pennsylvania

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted in Some Locations

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

17,668,252 gal

Ranked in the US

#8

$7.21

Ranked in the US

#21

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Rhode Island

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

2,924,048 gal

Ranked in the US

#41

$5.4

Ranked in the US

#32

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

South Carolina

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

No Restrictions

Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

8,640,758 gal

Ranked in the US

#27

$5.42

Ranked in the US

#30

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

South Dakota

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

1,372,167 gal

Ranked in the US

#49

$4.67

Ranked in the US

#35

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Tennessee

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

13,623,775 gal

Ranked in the US

#19

$4.46

Ranked in the US

#37

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Texas

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

No Restrictions

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

46,815,366 gal

Ranked in the US

#3

$2.4

Ranked in the US

#47

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Utah

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

No Restrictions

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

3,798,510 gal

Ranked in the US

#37

$15.92

Ranked in the US

#5

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Vermont

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

1,089,753 gal

Ranked in the US

#50

$7.68

Ranked in the US

#19

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Virginia

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted in Some Locations

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

13,645,830 gal

Ranked in the US

#18

$19.89

Ranked in the US

#3

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Washington

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

13,509,654 gal

Ranked in the US

#20

$33.22

Ranked in the US

#1

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

West Virginia

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Local Options

No Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

2,079,221 gal

Ranked in the US

#46

$7.62

Ranked in the US

#20

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Wisconsin

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

16,868,513 gal

Ranked in the US

#9

$3.25

Ranked in the US

#42

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

Wyoming

See more

add_circle

Alcohol Sunday Restrictions

help

Restricted

Family and Location Exceptions

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

help

1,645,718 gal

Ranked in the US

#48

Ranked in the US

#51

Consumption of Distilled Spirits

Alcohol Tax

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