Conn. Gen. Stat. § 30-91

Current with legislation from the 2024 Regular and Special Sessions.

Section 30-91 - Hours and days of closing. Exemption

(a) The sale, dispensing, consumption or presence in glasses or other receptacles suitable to allow for the consumption of alcoholic liquor by an individual in places operating under hotel permits issued under section 30-21, restaurant permits issued under section 30-22, cafe permits issued under section 30-22a, cafe permits for wine, beer and cider issued under section 2 of this act, Connecticut craft cafe permits issued under section 30-22d, club permits issued under section 30-22aa, restaurant permits for catering establishments issued under section 30-22b, coliseum permits issued under section 30-33a, temporary liquor permits for noncommercial entities issued under section 30-35, nonprofit public museum permits issued under section 30-37a, manufacturer permits for beer, a farm winery or wine, cider and mead issued under subsection (b), (c) or (d), respectively, of section 30-16, casino permits issued under section 30-37k and caterer liquor permits issued under section 30-37j shall be unlawful on:

(1) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between the hours of one o'clock a.m. and nine o'clock a.m.;

(2) Saturday between the hours of two o'clock a.m. and nine o'clock a.m.;

(3) Sunday between the hours of two o'clock a.m. and ten o'clock a.m.;

(4) Christmas, except (A) for alcoholic liquor that is served where food is also available during the hours otherwise permitted by this section for the day on which Christmas falls, and (B) by casino permittees at casinos, as defined in section 30-37k; and

(5) January first between the hours of three o'clock a.m. and nine o'clock a.m., except that on any Sunday that is January first the prohibitions of this section shall be between the hours of three o'clock a.m. and ten o'clock a.m.

(b) Any town may, by vote of a town meeting or by ordinance, reduce the number of hours during which sales under subsection (a) of this section, except sales under a cafe permit issued under subsection (d) of section 30-22a, shall be permissible. In all cases when a town, either by vote of a town meeting or by ordinance, has acted on the sale of alcoholic liquor or the reduction of the number of hours when such sale is permissible, such action shall become effective on the first day of the month succeeding such action and no further action shall be taken until at least one year has elapsed since the previous action was taken.

(c) Notwithstanding any provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, such sale, dispensing, consumption or presence in glasses in places operating under a cafe permit issued under subsection (f) of section 30-22a shall be unlawful before eleven o'clock a.m. on any day, except in that portion of the permit premises which is located in a separate room or rooms entry to which, from the bowling lane area of the establishment, is by means of a door or doors which shall remain closed at all times except to permit entrance and egress to and from the lane area. Any alcoholic liquor sold or dispensed in a place operating under a cafe permit issued under subsection (f) of section 30-22a shall be served in containers such as, but not limited to, plastic or glass. Any town may, by vote of a town meeting or by ordinance, reduce the number of hours during which sales under this subsection shall be permissible.

(d) The sale or dispensing of alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption in places operating under package store permits issued under subsection (b) of section 30-20, druggist permits issued under section 30-36, manufacturer permits issued under section 30-16, grocery store beer permits issued under subsection (c) of section 30-20, religious wine retailer permits issued under section 30-37s or temporary auction permits issued under section 30-37u , shall be unlawful on Thanksgiving Day, New Year's Day and Christmas; and such sale or dispensing of alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption in places operating under package store permits, druggist permits, manufacturer permits for beer, grocery store beer permits, religious wine retailer permits and temporary auction permits shall be unlawful on Sunday before ten o'clock a.m. and after six o'clock p.m. and on any other day before eight o'clock a.m. and after ten o'clock p.m. Any town may, by a vote of a town meeting or by ordinance, reduce the number of hours during which such sale shall be permissible.

(e)

(1) In the case of any premises operating under a cafe permit issued under subsection (c) of section 30-22a, a cafe permit for wine, beer and cider issued under section 2 of this act or a Connecticut craft cafe permit issued under section 30-22d, and wherein, under the provisions of this section, the sale of alcoholic liquor is forbidden on certain days or hours of the day, or during the period when such permit is suspended, it shall likewise be unlawful to keep such premises open to, or permit such premises to be occupied by, the public on such days or hours.

(2) In the case of any premises operating under a cafe permit issued under section 30-22a or a cafe permit for wine, beer and cider issued under section 2 of this act, it shall be unlawful to keep such premises open to, or permit such premises to be occupied by, the public between the hours of one o'clock a.m. and six o'clock a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and between the hours of two o'clock a.m. and six o'clock a.m. on Saturday and Sunday or during any period of time when such permit is suspended, provided the sale, dispensing or consumption of alcohol on such premises operating under such cafe permit or cafe permit for wine, beer and cider shall be prohibited beyond the hours authorized for the sale, dispensing or consumption of alcohol for such premises under this section.

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, in the case of any premises operating under a cafe permit issued under section 30-22a or a cafe permit for wine, beer and cider issued under section 2 of this act, it shall be lawful for such premises to be open to, or be occupied by, the public when such premises is being used as a site for film, television, video or digital production eligible for a film production tax credit pursuant to section 12-217jj, provided the sale, dispensing or consumption of alcohol on such premises operating under such cafe permit or cafe permit for wine, beer and cider shall be prohibited beyond the hours authorized for the sale, dispensing or consumption of alcohol for such premises under this section.

(f) The retail sale and the tasting of free samples of wine, cider not exceeding six per cent alcohol by volume, apple wine not exceeding fifteen per cent alcohol by volume, apple brandy, eau-de-vie and mead by visitors and prospective retail customers of a permittee holding a manufacturer permit for a farm winery issued under subsection (c) of section 30-16 or a manufacturer permit for wine, cider and mead issued under subsection (d) of section 30-16 on the premises of such permittee shall be unlawful on Sunday before ten o'clock a.m. and after ten o'clock p.m. and on any other day before eight o'clock a.m. and after ten o'clock p.m. Any town may, by vote of a town meeting or by ordinance, reduce the number of hours during which sales and the tasting of free samples of products under this subsection shall be permissible.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) and subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (e) of this section, food or nonalcoholic beverages may be sold, dispensed or consumed in places operating under a cafe permit issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 30-22a, at any time, as allowed by agreement between the Connecticut Airport Authority and its lessees or concessionaires. In the case of premises operating at Bradley International Airport under a cafe permit, the sale, dispensing or consumption or the presence in glasses or other receptacles suitable to permit the consumption of alcoholic liquor by an individual shall be unlawful on any day between the hours of twelve o'clock a.m. and four o'clock a.m. and after eleven o'clock p.m.

(h) The sale or the dispensing or consumption or the presence in glasses or other receptacles suitable to permit the consumption of alcoholic liquor by an individual in places operating under a nonprofit golf tournament permit issued under section 30-37g shall be unlawful on any day prior to nine o'clock a.m. and after ten o'clock p.m.

(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any permittee to continue the sale or dispensing of alcoholic liquor until the closing hour established under this section.

(j) The retail sale of alcoholic liquor, and the provision of samples or tastings of alcoholic liquor, to festival visitors at a festival organized and sponsored under a festival permit issued under section 30-37t shall be unlawful on Sunday before ten o'clock a.m. and after six o'clock p.m., and on any other day before eight o'clock a.m. and after ten o'clock p.m. Any town may, by vote of a town meeting or by ordinance, reduce the number of hours during which the retail sale, tasting or sampling of alcoholic liquor under this subsection shall be permissible.

(k) The sale of products at a farmers' market by a permittee holding a farmers' market sales permit pursuant to section 30-37o shall be unlawful on any day before eight o'clock a.m. and after ten o'clock p.m., provided such permittee shall not sell such products at a farmers' market at any time during such hours that the farmers' market is not open to the public. Any town may, by vote of a town meeting or by ordinance, reduce the number of hours during which sales of products under this subsection shall be permissible.

(l) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) of this section, it shall be lawful for casino permittees at casinos, as defined in section 30-37k, to allow the presence of alcoholic liquor in glasses or other receptacles suitable to permit the consumption thereof by an individual at any time on its gaming facility, as defined in subsection (a) of section 30-37k, provided such alcoholic liquor shall not be served to a patron of such casino during the hours specified in subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of this section, "receptacles suitable to permit the consumption of alcoholic liquor" does not include bottles of distilled spirits or bottles of wine.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 30-91

(1949 Rev., S. 4296; 1949, March, 1950, 1951, S. 2170d; 1957, P.A. 617, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 301; February, 1965, P.A. 553, S. 12; 1967, P.A. 365, S. 4; 489; 1971, P.A. 89, S. 1; 254, S. 5; 309, S. 1; 541; 1972, P.A. 1, S. 1; 68, S. 5; 294, S. 32; P.A. 73-11; 73-533, S. 7; P.A. 74-181, S. 1, 2; 74-307, S. 12; P.A. 75-598, S. 5; P.A. 76-347, S. 6; P.A. 79-272; P.A. 80-181; 80-198, S. 1; P.A. 81-169, S. 1, 3; 81-367, S. 8, 9; P.A. 82-33, S. 1, 2; 82-299, S. 5, 6; P.A. 83-283, S. 4, 5; P.A. 84-494, S. 10, 11; 84-546, S. 80, 173; P.A. 85-380, S. 4, 10, 12; P.A. 86-403, S. 98, 132; P.A. 87-321, S. 5, 6; P.A. 89-181, S. 5, 6; P.A. 90-44; P.A. 93-139 , S. 68 ; P.A. 95-161 , S. 2 ; P.A. 99-159 , S. 3 ; P.A. 00-192 , S. 77 , 102 ; P.A. 01-17 , S. 1 ; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-1, S. 103; P.A. 05-7 , S. 2 ; 05-226 , S. 2 , 3 ; 05-288 , S. 134 ; P.A. 09-47 , S. 6 , 8 ; P.A. 11-164 , S. 5 ; P.A. 12-17 , S. 9 -11, 15; P.A. 15-24 , S. 2 ; 15-244 , S. 82 ; P.A. 16-103 , S. 2 , 3 ; 16-117 , S. 6 ; P.A. 17-90 , S. 4 ; 17-160 , S. 6 ; 17-232 , S. 2 ; P.A. 18-66 , S. 1 .)

Amended by P.A. 24-0040,S. 41 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2024.

Amended by P.A. 24-0085,S. 12 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by P.A. 23-0050,S. 23 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2023.

Amended by P.A. 23-0110, S. 3 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by P.A. 23-0050, S. 22 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by P.A. 22-0104, S. 23 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 5/24/2022.

Amended by P.A. 22-0056, S. 5 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 5/23/2022.

Amended by P.A. 21-0037, S. 76 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2021.

Amended by P.A. 19-0024, S. 17 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2020.

Amended by P.A. 18-0066, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2018 Regular Session, eff. 6/1/2018.

Amended by P.A. 17-0232, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 17-0160, S. 6 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 7/7/2017.

Amended by P.A. 17-0090, S. 4 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 6/9/2017.

Amended by P.A. 16-0117, S. 6 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 6/3/2016.

Amended by P.A. 16-0103, S. 3 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 6/2/2016.

Amended by P.A. 16-0103, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 6/2/2016.

Amended by P.A. 15-0244, S. 82 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2015.

Amended by P.A. 15-0024, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2015.

Amended by P.A. 12-0017, S. 15 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 5/14/2012.

Amended by P.A. 12-0017, S. 11 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 5/14/2012.

Amended by P.A. 12-0017, S. 10 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 5/14/2012.

Amended by P.A. 12-0017, S. 9 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 5/14/2012.

Amended by P.A. 11-0164, S. 5 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2011.

Amended by P.A. 09-0047, S. 8 of the the 2009 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2009.

Amended by P.A. 09-0047, S. 6 of the the 2009 Regular Session, eff. 5/20/2009.

Cited. 118 Conn. 252 . Proof of alcoholic content discussed. 119 Conn. 439 . Cited. 121 C. 445 . Beer consumed at a forbidden hour given as a favor instead of being sold was held a violation. 127 C. 710 . Cited. Id., 722. Town may permit Sunday sales in hotels only. 138 C. 172 . Evidence concerning glass and its contents was legally obtained and therefore admissible to prove violation of section. 160 Conn. 1 . Board of zoning appeals may not limit the hours of a liquor outlet; that power is reserved to the town. 161 C. 297 . Held unconstitutional insofar as statute pertains to prohibition on sale of alcoholic liquor on Good Friday. 183 Conn. 552 . Cited. 191 Conn. 528 ; 226 Conn. 418 . Condition imposed by defendant board of zoning appeals on plaintiff's special exception, which limited the hours of operation with respect to the sale of alcoholic liquor, was authorized by a local zoning regulation that was not in conflict with the provisions of section. 169 CA 598. Legislative intent discussed. 3 CS 388 . Cited. 5 Conn.Supp. 51 . Legislature intended that permittee assume the responsibility to see to it that no liquor is sold on the days and during the hours prescribed by statute. Id., 118. History of statute; sale of liquor by a holder of a package store beer permit prior to 8 a.m. held not to be a violation of statute. 15 Conn.Supp. 290 . The fact that plaintiff was acquitted on a criminal charge did not affect propriety of commission's decision to suspend his permit. 17 CS 156 . Cited. 23 Conn.Supp. 281 .

See Sec. 30-10 re vote on liquor permit question by towns. See Sec. 30-36 re druggists' permits.