New Hampshire Alcohol Related Laws and Regulations

Where to Buy Alcohol
Wine and spirits are sold at package stores, which are state-owned operations., while grocery and convenience stores sell beer. Restaurants and bars have alcohol available from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. and alcohol is available for purchase at liquor stores from 6 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.

Legal Age for Drinking/Serving Alcohol
Although the legal age for drinking is 21, at 17 you can work in a restaurant serving alcohol, selling alcohol, or as a bartender.

Open Container Laws
If a bottle of alcohol has been previously opened, it must be transported in the trunk of a vehicle.

BAC Limits
A driver is considered ‘per se intoxicated’ with a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent and therefore can be charged with DUI. If the driver’s BAC is at .16 percent or higher than .08 percent, they may face enhanced penalties.

If a driver under the legal age of 21 has a BAC of .02 percent or higher, they will face DUI penalties due to ‘zero tolerance laws.’

Penalties
‘Implied consent laws’ require a driver to obey the officer’s orders to take a breath, blood, or urine test to reveal their blood-alcohol content. If they refuse to be tested, this makes them open to penalties, which could mean their driver’s license could be suspended for up to one year.

A driver’s license can be removed by the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) for six months for their first DUI offense, three years for their second, and five for their third.

The driver will not ever face vehicle confiscation, but may be required to have an ignition interlock device installed. They can also be ordered to receive alcohol education, treatment, or assessment.

In New Hampshire, a DUI is only considered a felony when it results in injury.