The new law doesn’t do away with the state’s blue laws completely. Unlike New York, Connecticut still bans the sale of liquor on Sundays. - A man that strikes his wife shall pay a fine of £10; a woman that strikes her husband shall be punished as the Court directs. - Whoever wears clothes trimmed with gold, silver, or bone lace, above two shillings by the yard, shall be presented by the grand jurors, and the selectmen shall tax the offender at £300 estate. But the Blue Laws were about much more than just liquor. Prohibition of Tobacco from The Code of 1650, Being a Compilation of the Earliest Laws and Orders of the General Court of Connecticut edited by Silas Andrus, 1830. Blue laws may also restrict shopping or ban sale of certain items on specific days, most often on Sundays in the western world. They may also sell alcohol for off-site consumption. Here are other businesses doing the same. Getting there: CT DOT hearings won’t change anything, Connecticut summer camps return after year away, Experts: Permanent telehealth needed as mental health needs grow. Although they might be labeled “kissing cousins” to blue laws that regulated commerce, alcohol laws are regulated by a commission that establishes its own regulations apart from the blue laws. Executive Order No. All around the country there are strange laws that have seemed to slip under the radar and have gone unnoticed for quite some time. New York’s liquor stores may be able to open on Sundays, but will have to close one other day a week. The code was the result of work undertaken by Roger Ludlow, who, in 1646, set out to amend the preexisting Capital Laws of 1642, which were mostly borrowings from those of neighboring Massachusetts. Connecticut liquor stores will now be allowed to operate from 10a.m. The term "blue law" originated in the eighteenth-century New Haven colony in Connecticut, where the laws were so called because of the color of paper on which they were printed or bound. on Sundays, and choose one item per month to offer at a 10% discount. "Among Peters's more peculiar assertions attributed to the blue laws was the claim that stylistically, 'every male shall have his hair cut round, according to a cap.' The plan reality is that state government does not know what is best for every business, large or small, in Maine. He further asserted, 'when caps were not to be found, they substituted the hard shell of a pumpkin, which being put on the head every Saturday, the hair is cut.' - No one to cross a river, but with an authorized ferryman. In a modern context, blue laws became regarded in a more general sense as “Sunday laws,” or those enacted to restrict or ban certain activities on what may be religiously held as a day of worship or rest. R. R. Hinman, compiled and reprinted the content of a preserved copy of the original New Haven Code under the title The Blue Laws of New Haven Colony, usually called Blue Laws of Connecticut. It's a remnant of the old Blue Laws that traditionally limited commerce on the Sabbath. Click through the slideshow above to see some of the most interesting ones, and click here to read Trumbull's book in its entirety. In 1781, the Reverend Samuel Peters published A General History of Connecticut, in which he used the term blue laws to refer to a set of laws that the Puritans had enacted in the 1600s to control morality. For example, in Connecticut, it is illegal to sell alcohol on Christmas day, unless of course you’re in a casino. They often involve alcohol. Car dealerships (both new and used) must remain closed on either Saturday or Sunday; the dealer has the option to determine on which day to close. click here to read Trumbull's book in its entirety. Columnist Colin McEnroe demands a clear definition for “cancel culture.”, Seasons lost to pandemic hit Yale lacrosse especially hard. "What we also did was lay down a marker on consumer reform within that industry.". James Hammond Trumbull noted that within the rhetoric of the period, the denotation of being blue was one of reproach. Official Connecticut alcohol laws:http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_545.htm. Other scholars assert that given Peters’s bizarre descriptions of the topography of the colony and a number of near-mythical occurrences presented as historical fact, his account of the blue laws became merely part of a larger attempt to find success in the emerging literary genre of the tall tale. Sale of alcohol 76.5% ABV or higher is illegal. Walmart is among the first to drop its mask mandates. Reverend Samuel Peters and The Transatlantic Blue Law Controversy Here's a selection of a few New … Despite their rarity, copies preserved by antiquarian societies and private collectors proved useful in combating later exaggerated claims about the content of the blue laws. Connecticut's state legislature passed a number of measures aimed at changing alcohol laws. - No man shall court a maid in person, or by letter, without first obtaining consent of her parents: £5 penalty for the first offence; £10 for the second; and, for the third, imprisonment during the pleasure of the Court. Who the first person was to use the term “blue laws” to describe colonial Connecticut laws, and when that occurred, remains unknown. While occasional references to the infamous “blue laws” appeared in newspapers and pamphlets in the pre-Revolutionary period, no examples of the laws themselves existed before “a sketch of some of them” materialized in the Reverend Samuel Peters’s 1781 work, A General History of Connecticut, from its First Settlement under George Fenwick, Esq. - Married persons must live together, or be imprisoned. McEnroe (opinion): What is cancel culture? Not straying far from the existing set of laws, the 1650 revisions pertained mostly to retaining the civil and religious order of the community. However, counties and localities in Arkansas can make their own laws regulating alcohol. While the bill does not give complete control to consumers and business owners, it would allow more Maine businesses to be open on major holidays. - Fornication shall be punished by compelling the marriage, or as the Court may think proper. Historians note that as a loyalist Anglican who had been intimidated and forced to leave his wealthy Connecticut estate at the outset of the American Revolution, the exiled Peters perhaps maintained some personal motivation for embellishing the severity and eccentricity of the blue laws in an effort to reinforce preexisting English claims of religious fanaticism and bigotry within the New England colonies. 7W (Renewal date for on-premise liquor permits to be extended) Department of Consumer Protection: April 2, 2020: Implementation Order for Executive Order 7T, Updated for Liquor Delivery March 31, 2020: … (Because nothing captures the holiday spirit like a mistletoe margarita while you’re playing 21.) They may tend bar. The blue laws that are still in place tend to restrict retail sales—especially those of liquor and cars—on Sundays and holidays. - Conspiracy against this Dominion (General Court) shall be punished with death. In 1876, James Hammond Trumbull's book "The true-blue laws of Connecticut and New Haven and the false blue-laws invented by the Rev. - 5p.m. As a result, many Americans found themselves fined or arrested for working, consuming alcohol, traveling, or partaking in recreational activities on Sundays. 40 of the 75 counties in the state are wet, though technically only 27 of those allow alcohol sales everywhere in the county. The "Blue Laws" refer to the 1650 Connecticut General Court and the 1655 Code of Laws of the Colony of New Haven. 2:00am. Blue Law Roots “Blue” Laws, or laws that mandate certain types of closings on Sundays, go far back in American history. Here in my state of Texas there are all kinds of blue laws regulating the purchase, possession, and consumption of alcohol. Mark Anderson, deputy commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority , said that in order to enforce the one-day-a-week closing, he expects that each store will need to include the day that they will close each week in … Blue laws have been around since before Texas or the United States were founded. The title page from James Hammond Trumbull’s book The True-Blue Laws of Connecticut and New Haven…. After reviewing a “new book of laws in the Massachusetts Colony” and a “small book of laws newly come from England,” Eaton set about making his changes. The court then considered and voted upon the governor’s modifications, and officials placed an order to have the laws drawn up by a printer in London. The degradation of blue laws does not only include those that dictate when … On-premise sale is allowed from … (c) A manufacturer permit for cider not exceeding six per cent alcohol by volume and apple wine not exceeding fifteen per cent alcohol by volume shall allow (1) the manufacture, storage, bottling and wholesale distribution and sale at retail of such cider and apple wine to permittees and nonpermittees in this state as may be permitted by law; but no such permit shall be issued unless the place or the plan … Alcohol Blue Laws (Laws Prohibiting Sunday Sales of Alcoholic Beverages) A blue law is one restricting activities or sales of goods on Sunday, to accommodate the Christian sabbath. Some areas even prohibited certain forms of entertainment, including performances. End of Blue Laws Could Mean Cheaper Alcohol - Wilton, CT - However, mom and pop stores may get 86'd. Lidia has 10 years experience in news and digital media and holds a degree in journalism from the University of Connecticut. - Whoever brings cards or dice into this dominion shall pay a fine of £5. Police … This last item was the lone concession to proponents of blue law repeal who sought the end of the state's mandatory minimum pricing practices. The work met with strong reactions from readers on both sides of the Atlantic who remained unsure as to whether the claims made by Peters, specifically his outline of Connecticut’s infamous blue laws, were intended to be read satirically or as a legitimate historical profile. The Blue Laws of the Colony of Connecticut is a term that has been used to collectively refer to the orders of the Connecticut General Court in 1650, and later the Code of Laws of the Colony of New Haven enacted in 1655. Their paths would come together to remake Tweed, succeeding where others had failed repeatedly for 20 years. - Each freeman shall swear by the blessed God to bear true allegiance to this Dominion, and that Jesus Christ is the only King. But Connecticut's blue laws indirectly prevent that competition from ever taking place. Learn more about the programs of CT Humanities! The Department of Consumer Protection safeguards the health and safety of Connecticut citizens by regulating all persons and firms involved in distributing, selling, and dispensing alcoholic liquor in order to prevent sales to minors and intoxicated persons, maintain product integrity, and ensure that licensed premises are safe and sanitary. Way to go, Guv'na. - No one shall read Common-Prayer, keep Christmas or saints-days, make minced pies, dance, play cards, or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, trumpet, and the jaw harp. Police: Bridgeport woman killed in New Haven shooting, Stamford man finds water and lost objects through dowsing, Applebee’s offering free appetizer with job application, Improve your health for free by enjoying the great outdoors, YouTube star Daym Drops bringing new foods to Dunkin’ Donuts Park. Historically, the most famous (or infamous) blue laws prevent the purchase or sale of alcohol on Sundays. What if CT realtors focused on sunlight rather than style? Samuel Peters" lists the famous Blue Laws outlined in Peters' book. Perhaps the current statutory ban on Sunday hunting is the last of the blue laws. However, … On the contrary, his American readership reacted with outrage, noting that the blue laws as outlined by Peters were a slanderous take on their colonial past. There is no statewide ban, but public consumption is illegal in most or all districts. An illustration from A Sketch of the life, trial, and execution of Oliver Watkins. In 1781, the Reverend Samuel Peters published A General History of Connecticut, in which he used the term blue laws to refer to a set of laws that the Puritans had enacted in the 1600s to control morality. In one such case in 1838, Connecticut’s secretary of state, the Hon. Sylvester Poli, Negotiating Cultural Politics in an Age of Immigration, Past Perfect: Wallace Nutting Invents an Ideal Olde New England, Greenwich Emergency Responders: On the Move Overtime, Aldrich Free Public Library: Dedicated to the Dissemination of Knowledge, Capital Punishment in Connecticut: Changing Views, An Orderly & Decent Government: Making Self-Government Work, 1634-1776, President Grant Celebrates Independence Day in Woodstock – Today in History: July 4. 7WW (Further clarification of limits on alcohol service and sales related to catering) . Every city and state has a select few, entertaining laws that are still in effect to this day. Dannell Malloy signed a Sunday liquor sales bill into law. Remnants of the blue laws remain to the present day in select states, most notably in the restriction of certain sales on Sundays. During the temperance movement of the 19th century, new life was breathed into the idea of blue laws, and many communities and states enacted laws banning the sale of both tobacco and alcohol, as well as “unnecessary labor,” on Sundays. Although revisions to the laws appeared in 1672, and again in 1702, the printed copies largely fell out of circulation. The "Blue Laws" refer to the 1650 Connecticut General Court and the 1655 Code of Laws of the Colony of New Haven. Among Peters’s more peculiar assertions attributed to the blue laws was the claim that stylistically, “every male shall have his hair cut round, according to a cap.” He further asserted, “when caps were not to be found, they substituted the hard shell of a pumpkin, which being put on the head every Saturday, the hair is cut.” Further fantastic claims included dress codes designed to deter lavishness, a strict forbiddance of mothers kissing their children on the Sabbath, and regulations against a number of activities including making beds, shaving, traveling, running, leisurely strolling, or walking in any manner deemed irreverent on the Sabbath day. So as of 2017, there are no US states which have a state-wide blue law banning all alcohol sales on Sunday. Recognized as the main source for what later became Connecticut’s blue laws, the New Haven Code of Laws came about during various periods of the late 1640s, and then underwent revisions by Governor Theophilus Eaton in 1655. Technically, blue laws ceased to exist statewide in 1982, when the last of them were repealed. These 9 Crazy Laws In Alaska Will Leave You Scratching Your Head In Wonder. Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws designed to restrict or ban some or all Sunday activities for religious or secular reasons, particularly to promote the observance of a day of worship or rest. The change to Sunday sales will force many small retailers to sell their stores or go into bankruptcy. Against a backdrop of social and ethnic change (largely brought about by periods of increased immigration), religious reformers sought to impose stricter moral and social codes in an effort to regulate the populations’ Sunday activities. Their purpose, originally, was to prohibit the sale of certain goods on Sundays, a day traditionally meant to be spent in church and resting. - connecticuthistory.org. But the Blue Laws were about much more than just liquor. In July 2018, the city of Fort Smith (Sebastian County) repealed a 1953 ordinance that prohibited a person or business from operating a dance hall or other establishment that allowed dancing on Sundays. - The Governor and Magistrates convened in general Assembly, are the supreme power under God of this independent Dominion (General Court). Lidia Ryan is a senior member of the digital team, creating and managing online content for all Hearst Connecticut sites as well as managing the SEEN section of the websites. He noted, “to be ‘blue’ was to be ‘puritanic,’ precise in the observance of legal and religious obligations, rigid, gloomy, over-strict, -in a word, to be in morals and manners the very opposite of a courtier, wit, or gallant of the time.”. Patrick J. Mahoney is a Research Fellow in History & Culture at Drew University and former Fulbright scholar at the National University of Ireland Galway. In May of 1650, the General Court of Connecticut adopted what became known as the First Connecticut Code. Conscious Cook: Swing into spring with spinach risotto, Faith Matters: How ordinary people become monsters. Haar: How five key guys remade Tweed Airport in a pandemic. - Whoever sets a fire in the woods, and it burns a house, shall suffer To sell alcohol for consumption off-site? When people think of the Connecticut Blue Laws they often think of the prohibition of Sunday liquor sales, which ended in 2012 when Gov. ... California has quite lenient laws about liquor promotion but counties can restrict sales with local laws. After relocating to London during the turmoil of the Revolutionary War, Peters published a semi-historical account of his former New England home in 1781. The God Squad: Let's finish our study of the remaining... A New You: Release your faith for a miracle, Your guide to finding a house or apartment in Connecticut. It was unclear if the blue laws were intended to be read satirically. He claimed that the laws were printed on blue paper, hence the … She also works closely with the food and features teams, and her writing has also been featured in the Sunday Magazine special section of the papers. Blue laws are enforced in parts of the United States and Canada as well as some European countries, particularly in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Norway, keeping most stores cl… Current law … death; and persons suspected of this crime shall be imprisoned, without Garden with four seed companies from the Nutmeg state, Pig roasts, mariachi bands: How to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in CT, Fairfield photographer captures kids throughout their teen years, Food & Wine magazine names CT the #2 pizza state in the country, click here to read Trumbull's book in its entirety, Bridgeport police: Two killed in shooting in illegal night club, DEEP seeks public’s help after invasive mitten crab shows up in Housatonic River, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal spotted at Connecticut restaurant, Data shows people moved into CT in 2020, but out of Bridgeport, Bridgeport amphitheater quietly opens for graduations. Youths need to know the ages needed for them. Useful Information : Connecticut General Statutes: Executive Order No. COVID upheavals were felt across sports, but the loss of two seasons for the 2018 champion Bulldogs is an extraordinarily bitter pill. According to Connecticut's Title 30 Section 91, alcohol can only be served on Christmas if it accompanies a hot meal. The two most prominent theories, however, attribute the term to Connecticut Episcopalians and other religious dissenters in the mid-18th century, or possibly those within the neighboring province of New York who voiced their disdain at the rigidity of New England puritanism. Ban on Sunday alcohol sales one of state's last Blue Laws News-Times, The (Danbury, CT) , John Pirro Staff Writer March 14, 2009 Updated: Nov. 17, 2009 3:09 p.m. An example of a law of this kind, which collectively have become known as “blue laws,” would be a law declaring that it shall be illegal to sell alcohol on Sundays. Separate from their mythical puritan precursors, the more contemporary and wide-ranging variations found enforcement to varying degrees across the United States during the 19th century. Of course, given that there are 254 counties, and that each county can set its own laws regulating beer and alcohol, and well, you ’ ve got yourself a potential schizophrenic mishmash of regulations. Many states and local governments have established a variety of laws restricting the sale of certain goods on Sundays. It took another three decades, but even booze is now available on all seven days. Note that individual regions or towns can still enact restrictions for a variety of reasons. Connecticut’s blue laws received international notoriety after their inclusion in Reverend Samuel Peters’s General History of Connecticut. How old must one be to serve alcohol in a restaurant? Additional notes:Connecticut has a minimum price law, meaning liquor stores are required to sell wine and liquor at a price point above what they paid a wholesaler. According to connecticuthistory.org, "Recognized as the main source for what later became Connecticut's blue laws, the New Haven Code of Laws came about during various periods of the late 1640s, and then underwent revisions by Governor Theophilus Eaton in 1655.". The term blue law commonly refers to the prohibition of alcohol sales on Sunday, but it historically defined a body of regulations designed to preserve the Sabbath by proscribing most labor on that day. benefit of bail. The first blue law in the American colonies was enacted in Virginia in 1617. ‘An ice cube went down my spine’: The wakeup call that made COVID real for a CT doctor. "What we did is do away with the 'Blue Laws' as they've existed for centuries in our state," Malloy said. Peters noted that the punishments for breaking the various laws included fines, banishment, public admonishment, mutilation, and even death. Often young people seek part-time jobs. New Yorkers have been flocking to these two CT towns. There are no differences for beer, wine, or spirits. - Every male shall have his hair cut round according to a cap. To tend bar? Many blue laws have been repealed since the 1960s, but some laws that ban the sale of alcohol on Sunday remain in force. Our easy-to-use guide will help you navigate some of the most popular housing markets in CT. >>The "Blue Laws" refer to the 1650 Connecticut General Court and the 1655 Code of Laws of the Colony of New Haven. The prohibition on Sunday hunting has been around since the 19th century. The site writes that the laws did not garner attention until Reverend Samuel Peters’s included them in his "General History of Connecticut" in 1781. The sale of alcohol on Sundays was made legal here in Connecticut in 2012, and while 12 states still have some form of Sunday liquor sale control, Indiana is the only state left that does not allow any liquor sale. Regardless of his actual intentions in undertaking a historical profile of his former home, his work proved successful in reinforcing the contemporary English view of Americans as a backwards, fanatical lot. Here’s why. This leads to higher alcohol prices than in neighboring states. "Blue laws" refer to statutes designed to enforce morality as some lawmakers understand it, such as restricting the hours that stores can open on Sundays or the sale of alcoholic beverages. Adults are those 18 or older. - To pick an ear of corn growing in a neighbor's garden, shall be deemed theft. - No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, sweep house, cut hair, or shave, on the Sabbath day. Alcohol can start being served on Sundays at 10 am, thanks to the introduction of the … Connecticut alcohol laws permit adults to serve alcohol in restaurants. Some such restrictions date to as early as the thirteenth century in England. Hospitality offers many. Such was the level of American dismay at Peters’s depiction that the outcry still resonated among the population nearly one hundred years after the work’s original publication (as evidenced by James Hammond Trumbull’s 1876 refutation of its claims). Florida. to its Latest Period of Amity with Great Britain.