Legal Definitions - Sabbath law

Definition: A Sabbath law is a statute that regulates or prohibits commercial activity on Sundays, also known as a blue law. These laws were once common but have declined since the 1980s due to their religious origins. Sunday is considered the Christian Sabbath, and blue laws may be deemed unconstitutional if they are enacted solely for religious purposes. However, they may pass constitutional challenges if they support a nonreligious purpose, such as providing a day of rest for workers.

Examples: A Sabbath law may prohibit stores from opening on Sundays or restrict the sale of alcohol on that day. For instance, in Bergen County, New Jersey, blue laws prohibit most retail stores from opening on Sundays, except for certain businesses like gas stations and restaurants. Another example is the state of Indiana, which prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays, except for restaurants and bars.

Explanation: These examples illustrate how Sabbath laws regulate commercial activity on Sundays. In Bergen County, retail stores are closed on Sundays, which allows workers to have a day of rest. In Indiana, the sale of alcohol is restricted on Sundays, which may be seen as a way to promote public health and safety by reducing alcohol-related incidents on that day.