2016 Delaware Code
Title 4 - Alcoholic Liquors
CHAPTER 7. REGULATORY PROVISIONS
§ 709. Prohibition of sales at certain times.

(a) No entity licensed pursuant to § 501 of this title or importer shall sell or deliver alcoholic liquor on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas or at hours other than those prescribed by the rules or regulations of the Commissioner, except as subsection (f) of this section may apply.

(b) No holder of a license for the sale of alcoholic liquors for off-premises consumption shall sell or deliver the same on Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas or between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Mondays through Saturdays, except as subsection (f) of this section may apply, and on Sundays before noon or after 8:00 p.m. Any municipality with a population of 50,000 or more may limit sales within the boundaries of the municipality pursuant to this subsection to a maximum of 4 hours on Sundays as established by ordinance of the municipality. The closing hours for days of the week other than Sunday may be made earlier in any municipality having a population of 50,000 or more persons, by ordinance of the municipal corporation; provided however, that such ordinance be consistent with the Delaware state and federal constitutions as well as treat all businesses fairly. During the months of October through December a holder of a license for the sale of alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption shall be permitted to have sales take place beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Fridays through Saturdays and 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

(c) No holder of a license for the sale of alcoholic liquor for on-premises consumption shall sell the same between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. The closing hour may be made earlier in any municipality by ordinance of the municipal corporation. The sale of alcoholic liquors by a licensee for consumption on the premises where sold shall be permitted on every day of the year; provided, that no licensee shall be required to be open to sell alcoholic liquors on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas.

(d) Any holder of a license to sell alcoholic liquor, for either on-premises consumption or off-premises consumption, who wishes to sell alcoholic liquors on Sundays, except a gathering license, shall pay a biennial license fee of $500 for the issuance of a special license to serve alcoholic liquors on Sundays, which shall be in addition to any other license fees which may be required of the licensee. If a licensee holds a license to sell for on-premises consumption and off-premises consumption it shall only be required to purchase 1 special license if it wishes to serve alcoholic liquors on Sunday.

(e) In the municipalities and other political subdivisions of this State where daylight saving time is observed, whether authorized by law or by custom, daylight saving time shall apply to the hours mentioned in this section for the period during which daylight saving time exists.

(f) Importers or holders of a license for the sale of spirits, wines or beer may deliver beer on Sundays in motor vehicles equipped with permanently-installed devices for the refrigeration and dispensing of beer to licensed gatherings only; provided, however, that such licensee shall have first given notice of such delivery to the Commissioner.

(g), (h) [Repealed.]

38 Del. Laws, c. 18, § 33; Code 1935, § 6162; 42 Del. Laws, c. 194, § 1; 43 Del. Laws, c. 277, § 1; 45 Del. Laws, c. 260, § 1; 45 Del. Laws, c. 265, § 1; 4 Del. C. 1953, § 717; 55 Del. Laws, c. 311, § 1; 56 Del. Laws, c. 265, § 1; 57 Del. Laws, c. 352, §§ 1, 2; 58 Del. Laws, c. 146, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 107, §§ 57, 58; 59 Del. Laws, c. 115, § 1; 60 Del. Laws, c. 466, §§ 7, 8; 62 Del. Laws, c. 381, §§ 1-3; 65 Del. Laws, c. 156, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 109, §§ 19, 21; 68 Del. Laws, c. 107, § 5; 69 Del. Laws, c. 6, § 5; 69 Del. Laws, c. 384, §§ 1, 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 248, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 486, § 11; 73 Del. Laws, c. 244, § 10; 74 Del. Laws, c. 29, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 141, §§ 1-3; 74 Del. Laws, c. 146, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 202, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 259, §§ 1, 2; 76 Del. Laws, c. 237, §§ 1-3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 72, § 3; 80 Del. Laws, c. 62, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 382, § 1.;