lawyer

In the northern New England states (Maine, New Hampshire. and Vermont ), liquor to go may only be bought in state government-operated liquor stores .

In southern New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts. and Rhode Island ) liquor stores are private businesses licensed by the state.

Many stores selling alcoholic beverages to take out are closed on Sunday. though most restaurants and bars with liquor licenses may serve liquor by the drink on Sunday.

The minimum age for buying, possessing, transporting or drinking alcoholic beverages is 21 years .

A restaurant may have a full liquor license (for liquor, wine and beer), a wine and beer license (ie, no strong liquor or mixed drinks served), or no license. (Hamburger and sandwich shops, and breakfast-and-lunch restaurants, are examples of restaurants that do not serve alcoholic beverages.)

If a restaurant typically a small, new bistro does not have a liquor license of any kind, you may be allowed to BYO ( Bring Your Own ) or brown-bag it (bring your own bottle of wine or beer in a brown paper bag).

If allowed, the restaurant will usually provide set-ups , that is, corkscrews, glasses, ice, ingredients such as soda for cocktails, etc. But in some restaurants brown-bagging is not allowed, and you'll have to forego alcohol altogether.

You are not allowed to drink alcohol, even beer, in most fast-food restaurants hamburger shops, pizza shops, etc.

It is also against the law to drink any alcoholic beverage in public areas outdoors such as streets, parks, and beaches.

The law is to discourage public drunkenness. If you are discreet, you can usually have wine or beer quietly with your picnic. Don't make a big display of drinking wine or beer. Pour your beverage without drawing notice, and drink from plain glasses, not from labeled bottles.

A few New England towns are dry, that is, it is forbidden for any shop, restaurant or hotel to sell or to serve liquor anywhere in town, but it is not forbidden to bring your own liquor into the town and drink it. In dry towns you must buy your beverages in another town and serve yourself in restaurants.