“Hawaii’s legal drinking age” Do you intend to serve or consume alcohol in Hawaii? If so, you must be informed of special restrictions and standards. It is critical to understand Hawaii’s liquor rules if you own a bar or restaurant. Noncompliance with these laws can have substantial legal ramifications.
This article will help you understand Hawaii’s alcohol regulations and will help you avoid paying high penalties or going to jail. Not to mention inconveniences and humiliation.
Hawaii’s Legal Drinking Age: Minimum Age
In Hawaii, 21 is the minimum legal drinking age. In Hawaii, if parents or legal guardians are the ones providing the alcohol, in such circumstances, the kids are allowed to consume it privately while being watched by them.
Additionally, as long as the customer is at least 18 years old and watched over by someone who is at least 21 years old, waiters are allowed to serve alcoholic beverages in most counties.
Hawaii’s Legal Drinking Age: Majority Age
The majority age in Hawaii is 18. Many of the rights and obligations that most other adults have become yours after you turn 18 years old. The ability to vote, obtain credit cards, buy cigarettes, and buy other regulated goods are just a few of your new privileges
Because your parents are no longer accountable for your conduct, you will also have new obligations. If you hurt someone, you may be held liable for their losses in a lawsuit. You might also get a jury summons.
Hawaii’s legal drinking age: Hawaii State Alcohol Laws
Hawaii is a licensed state; hence, it has no direct control over the wholesale distribution of alcoholic beverages. Instead, the state creates a general framework for alcohol legislation, with the specifics left up to its five counties. The alcohol laws may differ slightly among the counties as a result.
Customers and business owners should be aware of the following notable Hawaii alcohol laws:
Law Against Open Containers
Even if the driver is not drinking the alcohol, Hawaii law bans anyone from having an open container of alcohol in a moving vehicle. Hawaii law mandates that when opening alcohol containers in automobiles, the container must be kept in the trunk of the car. If the vehicle doesn’t have a box, the open container must be put behind the last seat in the back.
Alcohol Store Law
The “dram shop law” makes it possible for bar and restaurant operators to be held accountable for supplying alcohol to a customer who later causes harm or property damage while under the influence of alcohol.
In Hawaii, if an alcohol retailer provided alcohol to one of the following people without their consent:
- A person who isn’t of legal drinking age,
- A person who is already drunk, the law can punish the alcohol retailer.
Time of Sale
Hawaii’s booze sales are only permitted during specific hours. Bars and other places that serve alcohol may have different closing times based on the county and the license for that particular place.
The Laws Governing Drunk Driving
For the purpose of discouraging drunk driving, Hawaii maintains strong rules governing driving while intoxicated. Several elements, such as the following, determine the severity of the punishments for a DUI conviction:
- Age,
- Circumstances surrounding the offense, and
- Blood alcohol content (BAC) is one factor.
Underage drivers in Hawaii are only allowed to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.02%, whereas those over 21 are allowed to have a BAC of 0.08%.
DUI-related problems include the following:
- Fines
- Volunteer work
- Requirements for alcohol education
- License revocation
- Prison time
Drivers who resist chemical testing or have a BAC of .15% or more than the permitted limit.08% will face harsher penalties. Additionally, harsher punishments apply for future offenses.
To protect the safety of everyone involved, it is imperative that patrons and proprietors are aware of these regulations and follow them.
Hawaii’s Legal Drinking Age: Highlights of Hawaii’s Alcohol Laws
Underage drinking is prohibited for locals as well as visitors.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted to be consumed or kept open in public places, including vehicles.
Alcohol consumption is not permitted on beaches.
You can only order one alcoholic drink at a time, whether you’re a guest or a resident. Before ordering another, you must finish the first one.
Using fake identification or someone else’s identification to buy alcohol is prohibited.
Buying alcohol for a person under 21 is prohibited.
Hawaii’s Emancipation Requirements
A person under the age of 18 becomes an adult legally upon emancipation. Several things could lead to this. A court process is one of the most popular approaches. According to Hawaii law, emancipation also happens when a person forms a valid marriage.
Hawaii’s legal drinking age: Legal Age and Court Cases
A person must typically be 18 years old to file a lawsuit. Your parent or legal guardian will file a lawsuit on your behalf if you are under the age of 18. If the litigation relates to a contract, the agreement’s terms might not apply to you if you signed it before turning 18.
FAQs about Hawaii’s legal drinking age
The following are some FAQs concerning Hawaii’s legal drinking age:
When can alcohol be purchased in Hawaii?
As the state of Hawaii does not specify the hours of sale for alcohol licensees, the sale of alcohol in Hawaii, including beer, wine, and spirits, is governed by county and decided by the individual counties.
In most jurisdictions, sales at convenience stores, grocery stores, and off-premises retailers can often take place between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day. Restaurants and bars are allowed to sell alcohol between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 a.m., but some have a special “cabaret license” that permits them to serve alcohol until 4 a.m.
It is always better to confirm the particular hours of alcohol sales with the individual establishment. Also worth noting is the possibility of additional restrictions on the sale of alcohol during specific holidays and occasions.
In Hawaii, when do beer sales end?
Based on the type of business and county, Hawaii’s beer regulations permit the selling of beer at various times. For instance, in the counties of Honolulu, Kauai, and Hawaii, on-premise beer consumption is allowed from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., and in Maui County, it is allowed from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. In Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and Honolulu counties, alcohol use outside of licensed establishments is legal between 6 a.m. and midnight and 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Hawaii’s enforcement of the legal drinking age is how strict?
Hawaii has a strict policy against underage drinking. You will find yourself in serious legal trouble if discovered. You might have to pay a significant fee (between $300 and $1,000, depending on how serious the problem is).
For locals, this can even entail having their driver’s license suspended for 180 days (or more) and possibly even completing 36 hours (or more) of community service.
What Time Do Hawaiin Bars Close?
In Hawaii, bars have different closing times based on the county and their license. Although cabarets are allowed to stay up until 4 a.m., bars in Hawaii are required to close by 2 a.m., unlike several states where there is no set closing hour for bars. While there may be some variance in opening hours, these closing times are the same throughout the state.
It’s essential to confirm the particular hours of operation with each bar because some may close sooner if their license requires it.
Related article:
What are the ways to become an emancipated minor?
What Happens When You Get A DUI? Penalties Explained
Can You Get A DUI On A Bike? State Laws On DUI
Court Ordered Drug Test: Procedures For DUI & Child Custody Cases
