5 Bizarre Liquor Laws
Over the years there have been some odd and truly bizarre laws surrounding liquor.
While researching these odd laws, we found that some of the most outlandish came exclusively from the USA. Whether or not these laws are still applicable or they simply exist but are no longer enforced is something we can’t say for sure. Regardless, here are five bizarre liquor laws.
1. Colorado, USA
If you’re an avid drinker and horse rider, then you may want to avoid living in Colorado, USA. This is because riding a horse while under any influence of alcohol is illegal. What the punishment for committing such a crime is we’re not 100% sure.
2. Georgia, USA
In Georgia public drunkenness is illegal. While this is by no means a weird law, the problem people have with this is that it seems the law conflicts with another law in Georgia that states drinking in public is fine. So you’re allowed to have alcoholic beverages, just make sure they don’t have an intoxicating effect on you.
3. Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
One of the more specifically odd laws, it is illegal for you to give alcohol to a certain type of animal in Fairbanks, Alaska – a moose. We’re not sure where the laws stand on other animals, but they’re very clear about maintaining the sobriety of moose.
4. St. Louis, Missouri, USA
If you’ve ever had the urge to go to St. Louis, Missouri and sit down on a curb with a big bucket of beer, then you better think again. It’s against the law. Then again, how many people decide that is the exact way they would like to enjoy their beer?
5. Ohio, USA
Another one for the “don’t get that animal drunk” collection, there is a law in Ohio that states you are not allowed to get a fish drunk. Maybe you can have one beer with your buddy fish, perhaps he can feel slightly tipsy, but under no circumstances can he get outright drunk.
Despite our best attempts to find similarly odd laws in other countries, we failed to find any worth noting. If you do know of any odd liquor laws – past or present – that exist in other countries, be sure to share them with us in the comments below.
* Image source: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Ancient law brings fines for drinkers
By Reuters
Source: Reuters Want to drink in Mumbai? Do it at your own risk. Revellers in India’s financial hub caught drinking alcohol without a licence face stiff fines and a stint in prison.
City authorities are cracking down on illegal drinking after busting a rave party in one of Mumbai’s posh neighbourhoods last month.
A 63-year-old prohibition law requiring every adult above the age of 25 to get a drinking permit exists in India’s western state of Maharashtra but it’s never been taken seriously — until the rave party hogged media headlines.
“(This) will cause trouble to a lot of people, to common citizens,” said a senior excise department official in Maharashtra, the state of which Mumbai is the capital, on condition of anonymity.
“We have been sending proposals to the government to scrap this law because there is no meaning in having this law.”
Government permits are needed to consume, possess or transport alcohol — 5 rupees (around 10 cents) for a daily licence, 100 rupees ($2) for a year and 1,000 rupees ($18) for a lifetime permit.
While daily permits can be acquired from liquor vendors, those seeking a lifetime permit can get it from the excise department.
Individuals caught drinking without a permit could be fined 50,000 rupees ($895) or jailed for five years.
City police say they have little say in the matter.
“Once the law is there, we need to enforce it. So if it is not enforced, then it is the fault of the police,” said Rajnish Seth, one of the Mumbai’s top police officials. “We have no option.”