Buying Beer In South Carolina: Sunday Shopping Laws

South Carolina's alcohol laws vary depending on the location and type of establishment. While there are no dry counties in the state, and retail liquor sales are uniform statewide, certain counties may enforce time restrictions for beer and wine sales in stores. For example, there are no sales after 2 a.m. in Pickens County, while in Charleston, beer and wine can be purchased 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In general, liquor stores may operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and must remain closed on Sundays. However, grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and wine 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday.

Sunday alcohol sales are banned statewide in South Carolina, but some counties and cities have been granted permission to sell alcohol on Sundays through referendums. These areas include Abbeville, Berkeley, Beaufort, Charleston, Darlington, Dorchester, Georgetown, Greenwood, Horry, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Richland (unincorporated areas only), and York. Additionally, cities such as Columbia, Spartanburg, Charleston, Greenville, Aiken, Rock Hill, and Summerville have passed laws allowing Sunday beer and wine sales.

Beer and wine can be bought on Sundays in certain counties

Beer and wine can be purchased on Sundays in certain counties in South Carolina. While Sunday sales of alcohol are banned statewide, individual counties and municipalities can hold referendums to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine.

As of 2024, the following counties allow Sunday beer and wine sales: Abbeville, Berkeley, Beaufort, Charleston, Darlington, Dorchester, Georgetown, Greenwood, Horry, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Richland (unincorporated areas only), and York. Lancaster and Lexington permit Sunday sales in cities with referendums.

Cities and towns that have passed laws allowing Sunday beer and wine sales include Columbia, Spartanburg, Charleston, Greenville, Aiken, Rock Hill, Summerville, Santee, Daniel Island, Clemson, Hardeeville, and Tega Cay.

In these counties and cities, beer and wine can be purchased at grocery and convenience stores on Sundays. However, liquor stores remain closed on Sundays in South Carolina, except for a few hours if their local governments allow it.

It is important to note that the laws regarding alcohol sales can vary across different counties and cities in South Carolina, and it is always a good idea to check the local laws before purchasing alcohol.

Liquor stores are closed on Sundays

This is due to South Carolina's strict historical blue laws, which were designed to prevent people from working or drinking on Sundays, the Christian Sabbath or "day of rest". While many of these laws have been relaxed in recent years, liquor stores have remained closed on Sundays.

However, there are some exceptions. Certain counties and cities have passed referendums to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine only. For example, in York County, voters approved a referendum in 2012 to allow beer and wine sales seven days a week, and in 2024, the South Carolina House approved a bill to allow liquor stores to open for a few hours on Sundays if their local governments allow it.

While liquor stores are closed on Sundays, it is possible to buy beer and wine at grocery and convenience stores 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday.

Local laws dictate Sunday alcohol sales

South Carolina's Sunday liquor laws vary depending on the location. While the sale of liquor is banned on Sundays by state law, counties and cities may hold referendums to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine.

For example, in York County, voters approved a referendum in November 2022 to allow beer and wine sales seven days a week. The referendum allows local grocery and convenience stores to obtain a permit to sell beer and wine every day of the week. The measure does not, however, apply to the sale of hard liquor, and liquor stores remain closed on Sundays.

In Spartanburg, voters approved Sunday alcohol sales in grocery, convenience, and other stores, with 75% of voters approving the measure in the city and 64% in the county.

In Pickens County, voters approved Sunday alcohol sales in every city county-wide in 2022. This means that every city in Pickens County will allow the sale of beer and wine on Sundays at convenience stores or grocery stores, as well as at restaurants and bars. Prior to the referendum, four cities in Pickens County, including Clemson and Easley, already had a Sunday alcohol ordinance in place.

In Greenville County, the sale of beer and wine from stores was recently legalised. However, liquor stores must remain closed on Sundays.

In Columbia, the state's capital, the sale of alcohol is permitted from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturdays.

While some counties and cities in South Carolina have passed laws allowing Sunday beer and wine sales, others continue to prohibit alcohol sales on Sundays.

Alcohol can be bought in grocery stores 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday

Alcohol laws vary across the US, with each state creating its own regulations. In South Carolina, you can buy beer and wine in grocery stores 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday. However, liquor stores are only permitted to sell alcohol from 9 am to 7 pm, Monday to Saturday, and are closed on Sundays.

South Carolina's Sunday liquor laws vary depending on the location. Some counties and cities have passed referendums to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores. For example, York County voters approved a referendum in 2012 to allow beer and wine sales seven days a week. Similarly, Spartanburg County residents approved a referendum for Sunday alcohol sales in grocery and convenience stores.

In 2024, the South Carolina House approved a bill to allow liquor stores to open for a few hours on Sundays if their local governments permit it. This bill is part of an effort to modernise antiquated rules based on religion that designated Sunday as a day of rest.

While South Carolina does not have any dry counties, it is important to note that individual counties and cities may have their own regulations regarding alcohol sales. For instance, Pickens County has more restrictive laws, with no sales of beer and wine permitted on Sundays unless allowed by the county.

Bars and restaurants can sell alcohol until 2 a.m

Bars and restaurants in South Carolina can sell alcohol until 2 a.m. Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, it's a different story.

South Carolina's Sunday liquor laws vary depending on the location. In some counties and cities, such as Columbia, Spartanburg, Charleston, Greenville, Aiken, Rock Hill, Summerville, Santee, Daniel Island, Clemson, Hardeeville, and Tega Cay, Sunday sales of beer and wine are permitted. In these areas, bars and restaurants with the appropriate licenses can sell alcohol from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Sundays.

However, it's important to note that these laws can vary by county and city, and not all areas in South Carolina allow alcohol sales on Sundays. Some counties, like Pickens County, have held referendums to decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales. Additionally, liquor stores are typically closed on Sundays, although there have been recent efforts to change this.

It's always a good idea to check the local laws in your specific area of South Carolina to understand the regulations around alcohol sales and consumption.

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