Buying Beer Early: King Soopers' 7Am Policy Explained

Buying beer at 7 a.m. at King Soopers is possible, but it depends on the specific location and the type of beer you want to purchase. Colorado has complex alcohol laws that dictate the sale of beer, wine, and liquor in grocery and convenience stores. Historically, only specific \state stores\ within a chain were allowed to sell full-strength beer, wine, or liquor, while other locations were restricted to selling 3.2% beer. However, recent changes in Colorado's alcohol regulations have allowed more stores to obtain licenses to sell full-strength beverages.

Beer-buying rules at King Soopers

Location

Firstly, it's important to note that King Soopers beer-buying rules vary depending on the state you're in. For example, in Colorado, only one store in a chain is allowed to sell liquor, wine, or full-strength beer. These are known as 'State Stores'. So, a chain like Target or King Soopers picks one location in the state that they want to have that license, and that's the only one that can sell it. All other stores are only allowed to sell 3.2% beer.

Time of Day

Beer can be purchased at King Soopers at any time of day, except between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Age

You must be over the age of 21 to buy beer at King Soopers. It's worth noting that, in the past, Colorado had a split drinking age. At 18 years old, you could drink 3.2% beer, and at 21, you could drink any alcoholic beverage.

Quantity

There are no restrictions on the quantity of beer you can buy at King Soopers. However, if you're looking to buy in bulk, some locations have a walk-in cooler to facilitate this.

Type of Beer

As mentioned, the type of beer you can buy depends on the state and the specific store. Some stores will only sell 3.2% beer, while others will sell full-strength beer. It's worth noting that, in the past, 3.2% beer was measured by weight, while full-strength beer was measured by volume. This meant that a beer like Coors Light, for example, would be 3.2% ABW at a grocery store and 4.2% ABV at a liquor store.

Beer strength in Colorado

Beer laws in Colorado underwent a significant change in 2019, when the state's 3.2 beer law was repealed. This Prohibition-era restriction, which limited the alcohol content of fermented malt beverages to 3.2% (or 4% alcohol by volume), prevented manysection supermarkets and convenience stores from selling full-strength beer.

The repeal of the 3.2 beer law in Colorado was the result of industry regulatory transformation approved by the state legislature. The changes impacted various activities related to the manufacturing, selling, and purchasing of fermented malt beverages in the state.

As of January 1, 2019, consumers in Colorado gained the option to purchase full-strength beer at grocery and convenience stores. This change applied to stores that previously sold only 3.2% beer. The new law allows these retailers to sell beer containing more than 3.2% alcohol by weight or 4% alcohol by volume.

The change in beer laws had a significant impact on the liquor industry in Colorado. Liquor store owners expected a major hit to their beer sales, anticipating a corresponding 30% drop as they faced new competition from grocery and convenience stores. On the other hand, grocery and convenience stores were predicted to increase their beer orders by 30% in 2019 due to the change.

The King Soopers grocery chain, for example, opened a liquor store inside its massive new store in central Denver, carrying a wide selection of liquor, wine, and beer, including craft beers from local Colorado breweries. This move was seen as a challenge to other liquor stores in the area, with concerns raised about the potential impact on smaller specialty stores.

The change in beer laws also raised questions for beer brewers, who wondered if they would profit from the new market or struggle to get their products on supermarket shelves. While grocery chains expressed willingness to work with smaller brewers, the change could hurt those brewers who relied primarily on liquor stores for their sales.

Liquor license limits

In Colorado, liquor license limits have been a contentious issue, with grocers pushing for the ability to sell full-strength beer and wine. Until recently, Colorado's liquor laws only allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell 3.2 beer, a restriction dating back to Prohibition. This limit has now been lifted, and as of January 1st, 2019, grocery and convenience stores with the appropriate licenses can sell full-strength beer.

The new laws give grocers access to another, rarer license to sell all types of alcohol, including liquor, wine, and full-strength beer. However, there are strict limits on the number of these licenses that can be held by a single entity or chain. For drugstore liquor licenses, which require the licensee to have a drugstore or pharmacy, the limit started at five licenses per entity in 2017 and will gradually increase over the next two decades, with unlimited licenses available from 2037. For retail liquor licenses, which are available to stores without a pharmacy, the limit is lower, starting at two licenses per entity in 2017 and increasing to four in 2027.

These limits on liquor licenses have led to a strategy by grocery chains of selecting specific locations to hold these licenses, with the rest of their stores limited to selling 3.2 beer. For example, the King Soopers chain has chosen its Leetsdale Drive and South Cherry Street location in Denver as its liquor store, while Target holds its license at its Littleton store.

In addition to the limits on the number of licenses, there are also restrictions on the proximity of liquor stores to grocery stores. To obtain a license to sell liquor, grocers must buy out any alcohol licenses within 1,500 feet of their shops (or 3,000 feet in areas with populations of fewer than 10,000 people). This can be challenging, especially in areas where liquor stores are prevalent, and it may limit the interest of grocers in pursuing liquor and wine sales.

Beer and wine sales

Until recently, Colorado's unusual booze rules, including a 3.2 beer law, prevented most general stores from selling full-strength beer. This restriction was a remnant of Prohibition-era legislation. However, as of January 1, 2019, these rules were updated, allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer. This change was the result of a decade-long debate and lobbying efforts by grocery stores.

Under the new rules, grocery stores with pharmacies can obtain licenses to sell liquor, wine, and full-strength beer. Initially, entities were limited to five such licenses, but this cap gradually increases over time, with unlimited licenses available starting in 2037. King Soopers, for instance, has multiple locations in Colorado that qualify for these licenses.

It's worth noting that grocery stores without pharmacies would need a different type of license to sell alcoholic beverages. For example, Trader Joe's would need a liquor retail store license to sell wine and would be limited to two such licenses statewide.

While the updated laws have provided more flexibility for grocery stores like King Soopers to sell full-strength beer and wine, they still need to navigate various regulations and buy out existing alcohol licenses within a certain distance of their shops.

Alcohol sales timings

However, as of 2019, this law has been changing, and some stores are now able to sell full-strength beer. This change has been a gradual process, with the number of licenses that can be held by a single entity increasing over time. As of 2022, entities could hold up to three retail liquor licenses, increasing to four in 2027. By 2037, unlimited licenses may be issued.

These licenses are subject to various rules and restrictions. For example, grocers with drugstore liquor licenses must ensure they buy out any alcohol licenses within 1,500 feet of their shops (or 3,000 feet in areas with populations of fewer than 10,000 people) to add a license to sell full-strength beer. Additionally, new beer-only grocery stores must be at least 500 feet from existing liquor stores and schools.

Prior to these changes, only specific locations of grocery store chains were permitted to sell full-strength beer, with the rest limited to selling 3.2 beer. This was due to a law that allowed only one store in a chain to sell liquor, wine, or full-strength beer.

While the specific timing of alcohol sales at King Soopers may vary depending on the location and local regulations, the store generally adheres to the alcohol sales laws of the state it is operating in. It is important to note that alcohol sales timings can vary by state and even by city, so it is always a good idea to check the specific regulations in your area.

Frequently asked questions