How states regulate what you eat, drink, buy, and sell.
States regulate food and drink through very different agencies: alcohol boards set where liquor is sold and how bars can price drinks, while environmental or revenue agencies run container-deposit programs. The result is a set of rules that can change completely at a state line. Each map compares one of these rules across all 50 states, with the official text behind every answer.
6 Happy hour banned26 Allowed with limits18 Allowed
The most common answer is “Allowed with limits”, in 26 states. Whether a bar or restaurant licensed to serve alcohol on its premises may sell drinks at reduced prices for part of the day (a happy hour). Food specials, private events, prices at liquor stores or other off-premises sellers, and city or county rules are excluded.
10 Bottle deposit law40 No bottle deposit
The most common answer is “No bottle deposit”, in 40 states. Whether state law puts a refundable deposit on beverage containers such as cans and bottles of soda, beer, or water, so shoppers pay a few cents extra and get it back when they return the container. City programs, voluntary store programs, and recycling fees that are not refunded are excluded.
6 Government-run stores5 Private agency stores6 State wholesale, private stores33 Private licensed stores
The most common answer is “Private licensed stores”, in 33 states. Who sells bottled distilled spirits (liquor) to the public for drinking off the premises: government-run stores, privately run stores acting as the state's agents, or private licensed stores, and whether the state is the wholesaler. Beer and wine, bars and restaurants, direct shipping, and city- or county-run stores that exist only in some places are excluded from the answer and noted in details.
Each row is one state's answer to every question in this category. Select an answer for that state's details and sources.