Posts Tagged ‘Alcohol Laws’

Sales

- Beer and wine may be sold in privately-owned retail stores, including grocery stores.

- Spirits (liquor) may be sold in state-owned stores, which are often referred to as package stores or ABC stores. Some residents refer to these locations as “party stores”.

- All alcohol is to be sold between the hours of 7 A.M. and 2 A.M. Monday through Saturday, and from 12 PM to 2 A.M. on Sunday.

Legal Age

-         21 is the legal drinking age.

-         18 is the legal bartending age. Likewise, 18 is the age in which individuals may legally handle or sell wine or spirits in a state-owned store..

Open Container Laws

-         Like most states, it is illegal in Michigan for anyone to consume alcohol in a vehicle. Previously-opened containers, such as uncorked wine, must be placed in the trunk of a vehicle as to ensure that drivers and passengers do not have access to them.

Blood-Alcohol Content (BAC) Limits

-         The maximum blood-alcohol content limit for drivers is .08%. Drivers who have a BAC over .08% are considered to be “per se intoxicated” and may be charged with a DUI. Both of these laws are similar to laws in other states.

-         Zero tolerance laws apply to drivers under the age of 21, whose legal BAC is .02%.

-         Michigan does not enact “enhanced penalty BAC” laws, meaning there are not stricter penalties for individuals who have exceeded the .08% limit.

-         Michigan is one of the only states in which the penalty for the refusal to take a breathalyzer test is less than the penalty for driving under the influence.

Penalties

-         “Implied consent laws” mandate that drivers who are suspected of driving under the influence must cooperate with police officers’ requests to be tested for intoxication. These tests may be based on alcohol levels within urine, blood, or breath. Refusing to cooperate may cause an individual to lose their driving privileges for six months for the first conviction and one year for the second conviction.

-         If an individual receives a second DUI conviction, their vehicle may be confiscated and they may receive mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device at their expense. Additionally, alcohol assessment, education, or treatment ay be required.

-         Some DUI offenses are considered felonies in Michigan.