Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Pathfinder for Research of Alcohol Laws in the United States

Compiled by Colette LaFond, J.D.

Under the 21st Amendment of the United States Constitution, which ended the nation's experiment with prohibition, alcohol is treated differently from all other commodities bought and sold in the United States.

While the federal government generally retains some authority over the production of alcoholic beverages, the individual states exercise primary legal authority over access to and sale of these beverages. As a result, each state has established its own particular system of control over alcohol that differs from its neighbors.

Therefore research into most of the law relating to alcoholic beverages in the United States is necessarily state specific and can be rather confusing. This guide is intended to provide access to tools that can make research into alcohol law less confusing and more efficient.

Table of Contents

I. PRIMARY SOURCES

A. THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS

1. Finding Constitutional Law

B. STATE/LOCAL ALCOHOL LAW

1. State law about alcoholic beverages generally

2. State Statutes

3. Finding State Administrative Materials

4. Finding State Case Law

5. Local Law

C. FINDING FEDERAL ALCOHOL LAW

1. Finding Federal Statutes

2. Finding Federal Rules and Regulations

3. Finding Cases

II. SECONDARY SOURCES

. . . . . READ FULL GUIDE

___________________________________________________________________