Arizona Alcohol Related Laws and Regulations

Where to Buy Alcohol
Beer, wine, and spirits are sold between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. at retail and grocery stores, however they are not sold on Sunday between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. Alcohol is not served after 2 a.m. in restaurants and bars.

Legal Age for Drinking/Serving Alcohol
The legal drinking age in Arizona is 21 years old. To work as a server in restaurants and bars, a person must be 19. Those who are retail workers (and don’t work in package stores) are able to handle unopened alcoholic beverages when they are 16 years of age as long as they are being supervised by someone 19 years old or older.

 
Open Container Laws
All containers of alcohol that have been previously opened must be transported in the trunk of a vehicle so no one can have possession.

 
BAC Limits
If a person has a BAC (blood-alcohol content) of .08 or higher, they are considered ‘per se intoxicated’ and can be arrested and convicted of DUI without further evidence.

If a person has a BAC level that is .15 percent over the legal limit of .08 percent, they may face harsher penalties.

‘Zero tolerance laws’ attempt to deter underage drivers from drinking. If a driver under the legal age of 21 tests with any BAC level, they face DUI penalties.

Penalties
If a driver does not comply with an officer’s request to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test to determine their level of intoxication when they are suspected of being under the influence, they can face penalties due to ‘implied consent laws.’ Their refusal can result in the mandatory suspension of their driver’s license for up to one year.

When a driver is convicted of DUI, the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) can suspend a driver’s license for 90 days for the first offense, 90 days for the second, and 90 days for the third.

In Arizona, it is a possibility to confiscate a driver’s vehicle when they are convicted of DUI. They may also be required to attend alcohol education classes, prevention programs, treatment, and assessment for possible alcohol/drug dependency. They can also be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle if they have three DUI convictions.

When aggravated, DUI is considered a felony.