Your local packy!
You might notice that the farther north you head along the East coast, people will start mentioning that they need to make a “packy run.” The packy is an abbreviation for Package Store a.k.a. the Liquor Store. Every states’ alcohol laws vary, but New England has a few strange ones that drinking visitors are usually not happy to hear about.
Connecticut is perhaps the strictest New England state in terms of alcohol. Definitely plan ahead for the Super Bowl, because packys in Connecticut are closed on Sundays. This state has had some of the harshest blue laws in the country since the founding of the puritanical theological colony of New Haven in 1638. Blue laws were created to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping. Most have been repealed and declared unconstitutional, or are simply unenforced, although prohibitions on the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays are still enforced in many areas – like Connecticut! Hunting on Sundays is also illegal.
Connecticut is one of only three states that enforce the blue laws. Also, Connecticut packys are only open until 9 p.m. Mon.-Sat. So, stock up early and plan on spending Sunday nights in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts laws are slightly more lenient as packys are open until 11 p.m. as well as on Sundays. There are a few bummers about the drinking laws in this state. There are no “Happy Hours” or other limited-time discounts on alcoholic beverages and no fixed price open bar/all-you-can-drink specials in public places.
Rhode Island packys are open until 10 p.m., but also have shortened hours on Sundays and are only open from noon-6 p.m. Also, all alcohol is only sold in packys. Thus, convenience stores and supermarkets in Rhode Island are dry – unlike the other states where at least beer is usually sold.
Vermont doesn’t seem to have too much to worry about in terms of alcohol. There are a couple rules about the ABV content in beer and wine that can sold in supermarkets, but packys are open until midnight every night of the week.
New Hampshire is great because there are no sales taxes on alcohol! Also, the state is a wholesaler of wine and packys are open until 11:45 p.m. – an odd time but better than 9 p.m.!
Lastly, Maine’s packy hours go until 1 a.m. every night of the week. Another great thing about Maine is that many grocery stores are licensed as state liquor store substations and sell spirits which is pretty unique.
Bottoms up!
The Southerner's Guide to New England 