Can you carry a gun in a bar in Colorado?
Last verified against primary sources: · Updated
Generally yes, if you are sober — no Colorado statute bans carrying a firearm in a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol. Bars and liquor-licensed premises are not on any statewide list of prohibited carry locations. Two big limits apply: it is a separate crime to possess a firearm while under the influence (C.R.S. § 18-12-106(1)(d)), and the business itself may post "no firearms" signs and refuse entry.
There is no statute banning sober carry in a bar
Colorado's statewide "sensitive place" laws prohibit carrying in specific enumerated locations — government buildings and courthouses (§ 18-12-105.3), schools, colleges, and licensed child care centers (§ 18-12-105.5), and polling places (§ 1-13-724). None of them lists bars, restaurants, or liquor-licensed premises. This is an absence-of-prohibition finding: the law does not affirmatively bless carrying in a bar, it simply does not criminalize it. For the full picture of where carry is barred, see where you can't carry a gun in Colorado.
This is a reference, not legal advice. Whether you carry openly or concealed still depends on the general rules — see open carry in Colorado and concealed-carry permits. For a live situation, consult a Colorado attorney.
The catch: carrying while under the influence is a crime
The reason "sober" carries all the weight in the answer above is C.R.S. § 18-12-106(1)(d). Colorado law makes it an offense to have a firearm in your possession while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance. Crucially, holding a concealed-handgun permit is not a defense to that charge. So you can be lawfully carrying when you walk into a bar, and cross into a criminal offense once you have been drinking — without ever changing anything about the gun.
Our sources agree that possessing a firearm while under the influence is an offense and that a permit is no defense, but they disagree on the exact misdemeanor classification for this subsection, so we do not state a penalty class here. Do not read the absence of a stated penalty as the absence of a penalty.
The statute does not set a numeric blood-alcohol threshold the way the DUI law does; "under the influence" is the operative standard. The safe, unambiguous reading is that carrying and drinking do not mix under Colorado law.
The business can still say no
Even where the state allows carry, a bar or restaurant is private property and may exclude firearms. The concealed-carry statute expressly preserves that right:
Nothing in this part 2 shall be construed to limit, restrict, or prohibit in any manner the existing rights of a private property owner, private tenant, private employer, or private business entity.
If an establishment posts a "no firearms" sign or asks you to leave, ignoring it can expose you to trespass liability. A posted request is binding regardless of whether you hold a permit.
Local rules can add restrictions
Since SB21-256 (2021), local governments may regulate carry more strictly than before, including posting buildings and areas off-limits with signage. A local concealed-carry ban carries a civil penalty and a duty to leave when asked:
An ordinance, resolution, or other regulation prohibiting a permittee from carrying a concealed handgun may only impose a civil penalty for a violation and require the person to leave the premises. For a first offense, the ordinance, resolution, or other regulation may not impose a fine that exceeds fifty dollars and may not impose a sentence of incarceration. A person who does not leave the premises when required may be subject to criminal penalties.
City-specific rules matter here. Denver, for example, bans open carry citywide, so "open carry in a Denver bar" is not lawful even though no statewide bar-specific ban exists.
Common questions
Can you carry a concealed gun in a bar in Colorado?
Generally yes, if you are sober and have a valid concealed-handgun permit — no statute bans concealed carry in a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol. But it is a separate crime to possess a firearm while under the influence (C.R.S. § 18-12-106(1)(d)), a permit is no defense, and the business may post "no firearms" signs.
Can you drink alcohol while carrying a gun in Colorado?
No. Colorado law makes it an offense to have a firearm in your possession while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance (C.R.S. § 18-12-106(1)(d)), and a concealed-handgun permit is no defense. The safe reading is that carrying and drinking do not mix.
Can a restaurant or bar ban guns in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado law preserves the existing rights of private property owners, tenants, employers, and businesses to exclude firearms (C.R.S. § 18-12-214(5)). A posted "no firearms" sign or a request to leave is binding whether or not you hold a permit, and ignoring it can lead to trespass liability.
Is it illegal to open carry in a Colorado bar?
No statewide statute bans open carry in a bar while sober, but local rules can. Denver prohibits open carry citywide, so open carry in a Denver bar is not lawful. Elsewhere, watch for posted signage and the under-the-influence offense (C.R.S. § 18-12-106(1)(d)).