Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-1 (2026)

Sales on Sundays and holidays — Sales to underage persons, intoxicated persons, and persons of intemperate habits

✓ current as of July 2026

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Licenses issued under this title shall not authorize the sale or service of beverages on Sunday, nor on Christmas day excepting licensed taverns, clubs, victualing houses, and retail Class F licensed places when served with food to guests, and except in places operated under a retail Class E license described in this title, and excepting the sale of wine or winery products at retail pursuant to § 3-6-1.1(e)(4) by holders of farmer-winery licenses and the serving of complimentary samples pursuant to § 3-6-1.1(g) by holders of farmer-winery licenses, except in cars or on passenger-carrying marine vessels operated by holders of Class G licenses, and except as otherwise provided herein. The department may limit the sale of beverages on passenger-carrying marine vessels to the hours from twelve o’clock (12:00) p.m. to six o’clock (6:00) p.m. on those days; nor shall they authorize the sale or delivery to any underaged person as defined in this title for purposes of sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages, either for his or her own use or for the use of his or her parents, or of any other person; or the sale of beverages to any intoxicated persons or to any person of notoriously intemperate habits. Places operating under a retail Class C license are authorized to be open for the sale of alcoholic beverages upon Columbus day, Armistice day, and Victory day, provided however, that a local board of license may authorize places operating under a Class C license to be open on New Year’s day. A Class C licensee may serve beverages on Sunday with the written approval of the local board of license, subject to the notice provisions of § 3-5-17. Places operating under a retail Class A license are not authorized to be open for the sale of alcoholic beverages upon Thanksgiving day. Provided, however, that holders of Class A licenses may open from no earlier than ten o’clock (10:00) a.m. to no later than six o’clock (6:00) p.m. on Sundays, unless the following Monday is a holiday, in which event the holders may remain open no later than nine o’clock (9:00) p.m. the prior Sunday.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases, 1964–2012 · leading case: Lawrence v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc., 523 A.2d 864 (R.I. 1987).

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Lawrence v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc., 523 A.2d 864 (R.I. 1987). · cites it 19× “See G.L.1956 § 3-8-1; P.L.1966, ch. 280, § 1.”

Hallene v. Smith, 201 A.2d 921 (R.I. 1964). · cites it 13× “The record discloses that on November 27, 1963 petitioner received notice in writing that the police department had reported to the town council an “apparent violation of Section 3-8-1 of the General Laws of 1956, as amended, in delivering intoxicating beverages to a minor on…”

Pardey v. Boulevard Billiard Club, 518 A.2d 1349 (R.I. 1986). · cites it 4× “Upon defendant’s motion for dismissal pursuant to Rule 41(b)(2) of the Superi- or Court Rules of Civil Procedure, plaintiffs pointed not only to § 3-8-5 but also to § 3-8-1, as amended by P.L.1979, ch. 401, § 1, in support of their claim that defendant served alcohol in…”

Gushlaw v. Milner, 42 A.3d 1245 (R.I. 2012). · cites it 2× “, G.L.1956 §§ 3-8-1; 3-8-4; 3-8-5; 3-8-6; 3-8-9; 3-8-10; 3-8-11.”

Women's Liberation Union of Rhode Island, Inc. v. Israel, 379 F. Supp. 44 (D.R.I. 1974). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 3-8-1. Only Class C license-holders are prohibited from selling or serving liquor to adult women.”

Embrey v. Ortiz, 538 A.2d 1002 (R.I. 1988). “1956 (1976 Reenactment) § 3-8-1, as amended by P.L. 1980, ch. 406, § 1, which provided in its relevant portion that “[licenses issued under * * * this title shall not authorize * * * the sale of beverages to any intoxicated persons * * The plaintiff asserts that the trial…”

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