Buying Beer In Georgia: Age Limit And Alcohol Laws

Alcohol laws in the United States can be confusing, and Georgia is no exception. While the state government sets the laws, local jurisdictions are allowed to create their own rules and regulations, making the sale of alcohol even more complicated. In this article, we will explore the topic of alcohol laws in Georgia and answer the question: can I buy beer at 12?

Beer can be purchased by those over the age of 21

In the state of Georgia, the legal drinking age is 21. Beer can be purchased by those over the age of 21 at licensed retailers, including bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, and breweries and taprooms. The hours during which beer can be purchased vary depending on the day of the week and the county. From Monday to Saturday, beer can typically be purchased for off-premises consumption between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. On Sundays, beer sales are generally restricted to between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. However, some counties may have different regulations, and there are dry counties that prohibit alcohol sales altogether.

In the city of Atlanta, a recent measure has been passed allowing for the purchase of alcoholic beverages starting at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays, extending the hours during which beer can be bought. This is a result of the Brunch Bill passed in 2018, which allowed restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages earlier on Sundays. Additionally, Atlanta residents can now purchase beer, wine, and spirits until midnight on Sundays.

It is important to note that Georgia has complex alcohol laws that vary across counties and cities. While the state sets the earliest and latest sales times, local jurisdictions are allowed to implement more restrictive rules. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the specific regulations in your area.

Beer can be bought in bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, breweries and taprooms

Bars and restaurants that serve alcohol may do so from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Friday and from 11 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Some counties may require bars to close earlier.

Package and liquor stores are permitted to sell alcohol from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, they may not sell alcohol before 12:30 p.m. and must close at 11:30 p.m. In some counties, liquor stores may be prohibited from selling distilled spirits or from selling alcohol on Sundays.

Breweries and taprooms can sell alcohol between 8 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Most breweries and taprooms can't sell alcohol for off-premise consumption.

In addition to the above, beer can be purchased at gas stations and convenience stores. Gas stations are permitted to sell beer from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Convenience stores may sell beer and wine but not spirits.

It's important to note that the above times may change depending on the county, as Georgia allows local jurisdictions to set more restrictive rules. For example, in the city of Atlanta, beer, wine, and spirits can be purchased from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

Beer cannot be bought 24/7 in Georgia

These times may vary depending on the county, as each county can set its own alcohol laws. Counties can restrict permitted alcohol sale hours but cannot allow retail sales outside of the above times. For example, in Muscogee County, you can buy beer any time except from 12:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sundays. In the city of Atlanta, however, beer, wine, and spirits can be purchased from 11:00 a.m. on Sunday all the way to midnight.

Bars and restaurants are subject to slightly different rules. From Monday to Friday, they can serve alcohol from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. On Sundays, they can serve alcohol from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Some jurisdictions have a "brunch law" that allows bars and restaurants to serve alcohol from 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.

Gas stations are also allowed to sell beer and wine between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Grocery stores may sell alcohol from 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Liquor stores in Georgia may sell alcohol from 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Dry Counties

While Georgia is not a dry state, it does have dry counties that place restrictions on the type of alcohol that can be sold and the times and places it can be bought. As of 2023, the following counties in Georgia are dry: Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, Union, Butts, Decatur, and Upson.

Beer cannot be bought before 8 a.m. or after 11:45 p.m. from Monday to Saturday

In Georgia, beer cannot be bought before 8 a.m. or after 11:45 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. This applies to gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms.

While the state sets the earliest and latest sales times, alcohol sales hours vary by jurisdiction. Counties can restrict permitted alcohol sale hours but cannot allow retail sales outside of the aforementioned timeframe.

In Atlanta, for example, alcoholic beverages can be purchased from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. However, in most of Georgia, the sale of alcohol on Sundays is restricted to between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Some jurisdictions have a "brunch law" that allows bars and restaurants to begin serving alcohol as early as 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. on Sundays. On other days of the week, bars and restaurants can start selling alcohol from 9 a.m. and must stop by 2 a.m.

It is worth noting that Georgia has dry counties, which do not allow the retail sale of liquor at all. Additionally, some counties may prohibit alcohol sales on certain days, such as Christmas Day.

On Sundays, beer can be bought from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m

In Georgia, the sale of alcohol is regulated by the Alcohol & Tobacco Division of the Georgia Department of Revenue. While the state does not heavily restrict the sale, production, or consumption of alcohol, there are certain times when alcohol may not be sold.

Georgia is not a dry state, but it does have dry counties. These counties place restrictions on the type of alcohol that can be sold and the times and places it can be bought.

In Georgia, you can buy beer for off-premises consumption between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, beer can be bought from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. On-premise consumption regulations vary by county. These times may change depending on the county, but counties cannot allow retail sales outside of these times.

While Georgia state laws allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., some counties prohibit Sunday alcohol sales altogether. Additionally, the state of Georgia does not prohibit alcohol sales on any other days, but counties can prohibit sales on days such as Christmas Day.

The last call for bars varies from county to county, but the average closing time for bars is 2 a.m. Some counties may require bars to close earlier.

In 2022, the city of Atlanta passed a measure allowing the purchase of alcoholic beverages from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. This measure took effect in 2023.

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