It’s certainly no secret that Thanksgiving can be a very intense time of year, full of events, planning, travel, food, and family. While some opt out of alcohol at family-centered holidays, many consider alcohol with your meal (and during the Thanksgiving day game) to be a traditional part of the holiday experience.
However, Thanksgiving liquor laws (part of the United States’ Blue Laws) surrounding holidays can make boozing it up with friends and family a little more challenging. Or at least, these holidays will require a little bit more planning than a typical Friday night out. Though you may only think of the inability to buy alcohol on Thanksgiving in many laces minor nuisance, don’t discount how serious of an infraction it can be. Depending on the state in which you reside, you could be breaking the law if you try to purchase alcohol on Thanksgiving.
No matter what your plans for Thanksgiving regarding alcohol, make sure that you also plan for a safe ride home! It’s important (for both health and legal reasons) to be very careful where alcohol is involved. It can be easy to get carried away during a holiday focused on indulgence, but make sure you’re drinking water through the evening and plan a safe ride home. If possible, avoid driving at night on Thanksgiving entirely, as there will be many more intoxicated drivers on the road and even if you are driving safely, they may not be.
And if you’re curious about the laws themselves, here is a list of states where alcohol sales are currently prohibited:
*Alabama
*Connecticut
*Delaware
*Idaho
*Kansas
*Massachusetts
*Minnesota
*Mississippi
*Montana
*New Hampshire
*North Carolina
*North Dakota
*Ohio
*Pennsylvania
*Rhode Island
*Tennessee
*Texas
*Utah
*Virginia
It’s important to note that the penalties for violating these laws vary depending on the state in which you reside.
Thank you for visiting the Gabriella Young blog, an Austin criminal defense lawyer. We write to inform locals about law changes, events and news.