Alcohol laws and regulations
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk past extra papers reporting on Japanese gold medalists at Tokyo Olympics, in Tokyo Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Tokyo reports record virus cases days after Olympics begin

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 27, 2021 08:29 AM EDT

Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto looks on after the five-party meeting in Tokyo, Thursday, July 8, 2021. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan bans fans at Tokyo-area Olympics venues due to virus

By Mari Yamaguchi And Stephen Wade Jul. 08, 2021 02:11 AM EDT

People wearing face masks walk past the Olympics Rings statue in Tokyo, Thursday, July 8, 2021. Japan is set to place Tokyo under a state of emergency starting next week and lasting through the Olympics, with COVID-19 cases surging and feared to multiply during the Games. (Shinji Kita/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan to declare virus emergency lasting through Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 07, 2021 10:42 PM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday June 24, 2021, European Council President Charles Michel, left, greets Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel during an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels. The government of Luxembourg said Monday June 28, 2021, that Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation for 10 days. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, FILE)
The Latest: Hong Kong to ban flights from UK to curb virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 28, 2021 06:35 AM EDT

A COVID-19 patient is admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. South Africa's third wave of COVID-19 infections is overwhelming the health system in Gauteng, the country's most populous province that is now running out of beds to treat patients. (AP Photo)
South Africa tightens restrictions to fight resurgent virus

By Mogomotsi Magome And Andrew Meldrum Jun. 27, 2021 03:47 PM EDT

Croatia's Luka Modric, right, celebrates, after Croatia's Ivan Perisic, left, scored during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between Croatia and Scotland at the Hampden Park Stadium in Glasgow, Tuesday, June 22, 2021.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek, Pool)
The Latest: South Africa resumes restrictions to fight surge

By The Associated Press Jun. 27, 2021 05:40 AM EDT

FILE — In this Monday, March 29, 2021 file photo South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, right, heads a government delegation on a visit to ASPEN Pharmaceuticals in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The country's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been hit by further delays as it will have to discard at least 2 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines produced in the country.. (AP Photo,file)
Fighting COVID-19 surge, South Africa increases restrictions

By Mogomotsi Magome Jun. 15, 2021 03:40 PM EDT

Tokyo organising committee CEO Toshiro Muto speaks at a news conference after IOC Executive Board Meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool photo via AP)
No Cheers: Tokyo Olympic Village considering ban on alcohol

By Stephen Wade Jun. 09, 2021 11:27 AM EDT

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker praises the budget passed by the lawmakers during a news conference in his office at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP)
COVID-19 shot comes with a free beer under new Illinois law

By John O'connor Jun. 02, 2021 06:32 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 17, 2021, file photo, Emily Baumgartner, left, and Luke Finley, second from left, join friends from their church group in a birthday toast to one of the members, upper right, during their weekly "Monday Night Hang" gathering at the Tiki Bar on Manhattan's Upper West Side in New York. After a statewide midnight curfew on outdoor dining ended May 17, a similar indoor curfew for bars and restaurants ended on Monday, May 31 as coronavirus restrictions ease. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
NY lifts statewide virus curfew for indoor bars, eateries

May. 31, 2021 09:17 AM EDT

Carry-out alcohol from restaurants becomes permanently legal

May. 26, 2021 06:52 PM EDT
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska restaurants can now offer carry-out alcohol permanently under a new state law inspired by Gov. Pete Ricketts' efforts to help...

Nebraska to end extra $300-a-week pandemic unemployment cash

By Grant Schulte May. 24, 2021 02:42 PM EDT
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska will end a $300-a-week unemployment bonus that has been going to jobless workers during the pandemic, Gov. Pete Ricketts said...

Missouri lawmakers approve expanded alcohol sales

May. 14, 2021 03:02 PM EDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sunday tailgaters could buy beers earlier in the morning and a pandemic allowance for carryout cocktails could become permanent...

Florida governor signs bill to make alcohol to go permanent

May. 13, 2021 11:06 AM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida restaurants will be able to sell cocktails along with delivery and take out food orders even after the coronavirus pandemic...

Data accident releases COVID-19 results for 25% of Wyoming

By Mead Gruver Apr. 27, 2021 07:20 PM EDT
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming Department of Health employee working with computer code accidentally released COVID-19 test results for one-quarter of the...

People walk in central Istanbul, Monday, April 26, 2021. Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the country's strictest pandemic restrictions so far, closing businesses and schools and limiting travel for nearly three weeks starting Thursday to fight a surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths. Turkey had so far instituted partial lockdowns to curb infections and to keep the economy running as it faces a significant economic downturn.The measures will be in place until May 17. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Full COVID-19 lockdown adds to financial strain in Turkey

Mehmet Guzel And Zeynep Bilginsoy Apr. 27, 2021 07:32 AM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Alabama

By The Associated Press Apr. 14, 2021 07:38 AM EDT
Recent editorials from Alabama newspapers: ___ April 14 The Decatur Daily on the COVID-19 vaccine...

Healthcare worker walks past a poster explaining the after effects of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, March 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa bans liquor sales over Easter to prevent surge

By Mogomotsi Magome Mar. 30, 2021 04:00 PM EDT

A woman crosses a street as police surround a bar they raid in Warsaw, Poland, Friday March 26, 2021. A raft of new pandemic restrictions take effect in Poland on Saturday to slow the spread of infection in what has become of the new global hot spot for the virus, but even earlier restrictions are being defied by some.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Some Poles flout virus rules as harder lockdown takes effect

By Vanessa Gera And Rafal Niedzielski Mar. 27, 2021 04:54 AM EDT

Booze-to-go approved by Wisconsin Senate

Mar. 23, 2021 03:58 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Booze-to-go will be easier to purchase in Wisconsin under a pair of bills passed Tuesday by the state Senate. ...