Georgia has many laws pertaining to the sale, consumption, and distribution of alcohol. I would like to review the most common statutes and how they apply to you.
In Georgia, bottled spirits (distilled alcohol, or hard liquors) are sold only in retail package stores. Beer and wine may be sold in grocery stores and convenience stores with a license. Alcohol sales are not permitted in retail stores on Sundays. However some restaurants may serve alcohol on Sunday, depending on the percentage of sales and local regulations. Most restaurants in the state are allowed to serve alcohol from 6 a.m. until midnight, if local regulations permit.
Servers in bars and restaurants must be at least 18 years old in order to serve alcohol.
Georgia’s Open Container Laws state that bottles of alcohol that have already been opened must be transported in the trunk where the driver or passengers do not have access.
In Georgia, the legal age to consume alcohol is 21 years old.
Like all of the other states, the maximum blood alcohol content (BAC) that a person may have in his or her system while operating a motor vehicle in Georgia is 0.08 percent. If your BAC is over this limit, you will be charged with a “per se” violation. Even if your driving was not impaired by alcohol, you may be convicted of DUI based on your BAC alone.
Georgia has Zero Tolerance laws that are intended to keep minors from consuming alcohol and then driving. Drivers under the age of 21 may be arrested for driving under the influence with a BAC of 0.02 percent or higher.
Drivers who refuse to take a chemical test or who have an excessively high BAC (0.15 percent or higher) are subject to stricter penalties. Refusing to take a breath, blood, or urine test will lead to a one-year driver’s license suspension by the DMV, with no chance of a limited permit.
An ignition interlock device may be ordered for a second DUI conviction. This device must be installed and maintained at the offender’s expense.
