An Old U.S. Law Bans Citizens From Buying Alcohol on Election Day — Is It Still Active?

As most of us know, several U.S. laws are incredibly outdated and definitely require some updates, but one regulation that is still active in certain parts of the country may hinder your Election Day plans. An age-old law bans actually U.S. citizens from purchasing alcohol on Election Day, which — depending on how certain election results turn out — may come as a somewhat of a drag.

You may have been hoping to buy alcohol on an upcoming Election Day — but is the outdated alcohol ban still in effect nationwide? It depends on where you live, though the pre-Prohibition law is still active in certain parts across the U.S.

Generally on Election Day, a number of businesses across the board close to allow employees to vote, and to encourage others to do the same. However, pre-Prohibition era, several states started mandating liquor stores to close down, and retailers that sold liquor to refrain from doing so on Election Day. According to WUSA9, this was because candidates often used alcohol to persuade undecided voters, which George Washington was allegedly guilty of doing.

Maryland was the very first U.S. state to establish an Election Day alcohol ban in 1811, and a number of states decided to follow suit after that, according to Vine Pair. However, over the years, most states had repealed the unusual law, and South Carolina was the last mainland state to officially roll it back in June 2014, when lawmakers decided citizens could once again purchase alcohol at restaurants, stores, and bars on polling days.

As of January 2023, only parts of Puerto Rico, certain Alaskan jurisdictions, and certain parts of Massachusetts, have Election Day dry laws in place. So if you live in Alaska, Massachusetts, or Puerto Rico, check your municipality's website or call your local bar or liquor store before attempting to head out for a drink. If you live anywhere in the U.S. besides those three places, you should be fine to pick up alcohol on Election Day.

Several parts of Latin America, however, still strictly enforce the law to this day, including: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and in Venezuela.

A number of bars and restaurants across the country often try to incentivize citizens to fulfill their civic duties by offering deals to anyone who shows off their voting stickers, and in some places, that means you can get a free or discounted drink. Chili's, for example, offered $5 Presidente Margaritas to those who showed support for the "Marg Party" in November 2020.

If you aren't in the vicinity of any bars or restaurants that are doling out free or cheap booze on the next Election Day, however, consider supporting one of our favorite sustainable beer, liquor, or wine brands. Reducing your environmental impact is important everyday, regardless of what day it is.

Cheers to drinking green, and voting blue. Whatever happens, drink responsibly.

This article, originally published on Nov. 3, 2020, has been updated.