#1 Sunday Liquor Sales Bans
12 States continue to cling to Prohibition-era Blue Laws banning Sunday liquor sales. They include: Alabama, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. Notably, Indiana is the only state in the country that bans beer, wine and liquor on Sundays.
Click here to see a map of states that allow Sunday spirits sales.

#2 Spirits Tastings Bans
6 States prohibit distilled spirits tastings at on or off-premise establishments. Adult consumers are fascinated by today's cocktail culture, and curious about how to discern between the 5,000 distilled spirits products on the market. Tastings are a responsible way to allow consumers the chance to educate their purchasing decisions. States that prohibit spirits tastings include: Alaska, Georgia, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Utah.
Click here to see a map of states that allow distilled spirits tastings.

#3 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bans
2 States prohibit the sale of alcohol on state and national Election Days. This restriction is a relic of the Prohibition era when saloons sometimes served as polling stations. The only states that still cling to statewide Election Day sales bans of alcohol at restaurants, bars and package stores are Kentucky and South Carolina. Alaska and Massachusetts also ban Election Day alcohol sales, except that local governments are authorized to provide an exemption from the ban.

Honorable Mention: Silly State Regulations

Louisiana: A permit may be issued to any type of business except a donut shop (viz., sells donuts, pastries or other confections, and does not prepare and regularly serve other uncooked foods). (La. Rev. Stat. §§ 26-73.1 & 26-273(7).)

North Carolina: A mixed beverage (on-premise spirits) permittee may advertise (by means of circular, newspaper, magazine, radio, and television) the price and a description or picture of mixed beverages, but many not include any name, display, picture or make reference to a particular spirits brand or company name. (N.C. Admin. Code tit. 4, r.2S.1010(c)(1).)

South Carolina: All malt beverages containing not more than 5% alcohol by weight and all wines containing not more than 21% alcohol by volume "are declared to be nonalcoholic and nonintoxicating." (S.C. Admin. Code § 61-4-10.)

Tennessee: Neither a wholesale or retail store shall be located anywhere except on the ground floor, shall have one main entrance opening on a public street, and shall have not any other entrance for use by the public. The one entrance limit is subject to exceptions: a corner store may have a door on each of the two streets; a sales room adjoining a lobby of a hotel or other public building may have an additional door into the lobby which is open to the public; when entrances and exits are required by existing or future municipal ordinances; and at the Commission’s discretion, a store in a shopping center that does not (and cannot) have a main entrance or door opening into a public street, but has a main entrance or door opening or fronting on a shopping center parking area. (Tenn. Code § 57-3-404(f).)

Washington: Beer, wine and distilled spirits may be sold at professional sporting events in approved restaurants, lounges, private suites, club rooms, or other approved service areas. During these same events, only beer and wine may be consumed throughout seating areas, only beer may be served ("hawking") throughout these seating areas; and only wine may be served and consumed in club seats. (Wash. Admin. Code §§ 314-16-265 & 314-16-270.)