Buying Beer On Saturdays: Extended Hours, No Limits

The sale of alcohol in the United States is governed by a complex system of federal, state, and local laws. While the federal government sets the minimum drinking age and regulates alcohol content, individual states have the power to restrict the sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages. These restrictions vary widely across the country and can be based on the day of the week, the time of day, the type of alcohol, and the type of business selling the alcohol.

In Texas, for example, liquor stores are closed on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Beer and wine, on the other hand, can be purchased from grocery and convenience stores on Saturdays until 1 am on Sunday mornings.

Beer can be purchased on Sundays in Texas

Texas's alcohol laws, also known as "blue laws", can be confusing and have been amended several times over the years.

In 2021, Texas updated its laws regarding the purchase times for beer and wine on Sundays, moving it from noon to 10 a.m. Beer can be purchased at grocery stores or other retailers starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays and consumers have until midnight to do so.

Beer and wine can be served at festivals on Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon with the proper permit. If you're at a bar or restaurant, you have to buy food with your drink before noon.

Wineries are allowed to operate from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

However, liquor stores in Texas are closed on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If Christmas or New Year's falls on a Sunday, the stores remain closed on the following Monday.

Liquor stores are closed on Sundays in Texas

Texas has some unique laws governing the sale of alcohol. The state's liquor laws are complex and vary across cities and counties. However, one thing is clear: liquor stores are closed on Sundays.

Liquor stores in Texas can sell alcohol from 10 am to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday. They are not permitted to operate on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the stores must remain closed on the following Monday.

The laws regarding the sale of beer and wine are slightly different. Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and wine from 7 am to midnight, Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, sales are extended until 1 am on Sunday morning. Beer and wine sales on Sundays are permitted from 10 am to midnight.

Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol from 10 am to midnight on Sundays, but there are some stipulations. Alcohol can only be served from 10 am to noon if it is accompanied by food. If food is not included in the order, alcohol-only sales are permitted starting at noon.

Texas's liquor laws have been in place since 1935, two years after the end of federal Prohibition. These laws, commonly known as "blue laws," were initially enacted to highlight Sunday as a day of worship or rest. While some may find these laws inconvenient, they have been a part of Texas's legal code for almost 90 years and continue to shape the sale and consumption of alcohol in the state.

Alcohol sales are restricted by day in some states

Alcohol sales are indeed restricted by day in some states. In the United States, a complex system of federal, state, and local laws governs how alcohol is bought and consumed. While the federal alcohol restrictions apply to all states, local laws govern smaller jurisdictions.

Many states restrict the times of day when retailers can sell alcohol, and this can vary depending on the day of the week. For example, in Texas, grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and wine from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, sales are extended until 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. However, liquor stores are closed on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

In Mississippi, alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays and Christmas Day. Alcohol can only be purchased between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

In Alabama, alcohol sales are prohibited in several counties known as "dry counties."

In Georgia, the only statewide rule is that Sunday off-premises sales are not allowed from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

In Idaho, liquor cannot be sold on Sundays or on Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

These are just a few examples of how alcohol sales are restricted by day in some states. It's important to note that these laws can vary widely across the United States, and it's always a good idea to check the specific regulations in your state or local jurisdiction.

Alcohol sales are also restricted by time in some states

Alcohol sales are restricted by time in some states, and these restrictions vary depending on the day of the week, the type of alcohol, and the type of business selling it.

In Texas, for example, grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and wine from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, sales are extended until 1 a.m. on Sunday morning, and on Sundays, sales are permitted from 10 a.m. to midnight. Liquor stores, on the other hand, are closed on Sundays, as well as on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. They are permitted to operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the other days of the week.

In Mississippi, beer can only be purchased between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays and Christmas Day.

Some states, like California, Arizona, and Alaska, have more lenient laws, allowing alcohol sales from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day of the year.

Other states restrict alcohol sales by the type of business. For instance, in Connecticut, there are no longer statewide prohibitions on Sunday sales, but local ordinances may restrict on-premises sales on Sundays. In Florida, state law prohibits on-premises and off-premises sales between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., but counties can override this restriction. Miami-Dade County, for example, allows liquor stores to operate 24 hours a day.

Additionally, some states restrict alcohol sales by the type of alcohol. In Texas, bars and restaurants can only serve alcohol from 10 a.m. to noon on Sundays if it is paired with food. If food is not included in the order, alcohol-only sales can begin at noon.

Alcohol sales are also restricted by type in some states

Alabama

Beer and wine are not controlled by the state, but spirits are. On-premise and off-premise liquor sales are limited to 2 a.m. on Sundays. Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets, but spirits cannot. There is a 6% ABV cap on beer sales, and bottles cannot exceed 16 oz. Wine also faces a 14.9% ABV limit.

Indiana

Indiana prohibits the sale of cold beer by grocery stores or gas stations, but allows cold beer to be sold from liquor stores. Indiana is one of 12 states that currently prohibits the sale of spirits on Sundays. It's the only state that also bans wine and beer sales on that day, unless you're buying from a brewery or winery.

Colorado

Liquor stores, breweries, vintners, and distilleries are the only places you can legally buy beer and wine that's full strength in the state, with grocery stores and other venues left out of the mix. There's a coalition pushing to rewrite those alcohol laws, but it won't try to expand sales of liquor in the state as part of that ballot campaign.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts law not only bans happy hours but also any other kind of drink special—fixed-price open bars, all-you-can-drink, free drinks, and drinks as prizes. In fact, according to Boston Magazine, it was the first state to do so back in 1984. A patron cannot have more than two drinks at any one time, and pitchers aren't allowed unless there are more than two people.

Texas

Texas liquor laws are stricter than those for beer. Texas liquor stores are closed on Sundays and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If Christmas or New Year's falls on a Sunday, the stores must remain closed on Monday. Texas liquor stores, sometimes called "package" stores, operate from 10 am to 9 pm every other day.

Frequently asked questions