Buying Beer In Carter County On Sundays: What's Allowed?

Alcohol laws in the United States vary from state to state, and even from county to county. In Tennessee, the sale of alcohol is prohibited or restricted in some counties, but not in Carter County. In this county, beer can be purchased on Sundays, but not before 10 am. On Mondays through Saturdays, beer can be purchased from 8 am to 11 pm. However, beer cannot be bought on Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. These laws apply to retail locations, such as grocery stores, and bars and restaurants.

Carter County's alcohol laws

Alcohol laws in Carter County, Tennessee, vary depending on the type of establishment and the day of the week. Here is a detailed overview of the alcohol regulations in the county:

Hours of Sale for Liquor Stores, Gas Stations, and Supermarkets:

In unincorporated areas of Carter County, the sale of packaged liquor is prohibited on Sundays. Packaged liquor can be sold from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with the specific hours subject to variation by local ordinance. The sale of packaged beer and wine is also prohibited on Sundays. Packaged beer and wine can be sold from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday, again with potential variations due to local ordinances.

Holidays:

The sale of packaged liquor and beer is prohibited on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter.

Hours of Sale for Bars and Restaurants:

On-premises service of liquor is prohibited in Carter County. On-premises service of beer and wine is not allowed on Sundays. Beer and wine can be served from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday, with potential variations due to local ordinances.

State-wide Alcohol Laws:

Tennessee is not a dry state, but many of its counties have restrictions on alcohol sales and consumption. While some counties prohibit liquor by the drink, others do not permit package sales. Interestingly, the sale of beer does not change a county's designation from dry to wet. Tennessee allows the sale of beer in retail centers from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays. Bars and restaurants can sell beer until 3:00 a.m. every day, except on Sundays when they must stop serving at 3:00 a.m. as well.

Age Restrictions:

The legal drinking age in Tennessee is 21, and anyone selling alcohol is required by law to check the ID of individuals who do not appear to be 50 or older. Minors are prohibited from drinking beer, even with their parents, as there are no exceptions to the minimum drinking age in the state.

Open Container Laws:

Tennessee has open container laws that apply to both vehicles and public property. It is illegal to possess an open container of alcohol in the seating area of a vehicle, and this applies to both drivers and passengers, even if the vehicle is parked. An exception is made for limousines, where passengers can consume alcohol in the passenger area, but the driver's compartment is still off-limits. Open containers of alcohol are also prohibited on public property, such as streets, sidewalks, and public rights-of-way.

Server Permit Requirements:

Employees directly involved in the sale or service of alcohol to customers are required to have an alcohol service permit. This includes anyone who handles open containers of alcohol. However, employees who only handle sealed containers do not need a permit. Bouncers, janitors, and security staff who don't sell or serve alcohol are also exempt from this requirement.

Beer sales in bars and restaurants

On Sundays, bars and restaurants in Carter County are permitted to serve beer between 10 am and 3 am. However, it is important to note that on-premises service of beer is prohibited on Sundays in unincorporated areas within the county. This means that only packaged beer sales are allowed on Sundays in these areas.

From Monday to Saturday, bars and restaurants can serve beer from 8 am to 3 am. It is worth mentioning that these establishments are prohibited from giving out free drinks, including beer. Additionally, patrons can currently purchase up to 16 ounces of beer to-go as long as they also order food.

The sale of beer in bars and restaurants is also restricted on certain holidays. Beer cannot be sold on Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

It is important to be aware that the laws regarding alcohol sales can vary from county to county in Tennessee. While the information provided here pertains specifically to Carter County, other counties may have different regulations in place. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the local laws before purchasing or consuming alcohol.

Buying beer on Sundays in Tennessee

Tennessee's alcohol laws vary by county, and each county's regulations are subject to local ordinances. While Tennessee is not a dry state, many counties have some restrictions on alcohol sales or consumption.

In Carter County, the sale of packaged liquor is prohibited on Sundays, and packaged beer and wine cannot be sold before 10 am on Sundays. On Mondays to Saturdays, packaged liquor may be sold between 8 am and 11 pm, and packaged beer and wine may be sold between 6 am and midnight.

On-premises service of liquor is prohibited in Carter County, and on-premises service of beer and wine is not allowed before 10 am on Sundays. From Mondays to Saturdays, beer and wine may be served between 6 am and midnight.

Statewide, alcohol sales are prohibited on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Bars and restaurants in Tennessee can sell beer from 8 am to 3 am from Monday to Saturday, and from 10 am to 3 am on Sundays. Grocery and liquor stores can sell alcohol from 8 am to 11 pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 10 am to 11 pm on Sundays.

The minimum drinking age in Tennessee is 21, and it is illegal to sell alcohol to minors.

Beer delivery in Tennessee

Tennessee's alcohol laws vary considerably by county. Local government jurisdictions (counties and municipalities) in Tennessee do not allow the sale of liquor or wine by default and must amend the laws to allow for liquor-by-the-drink sales and retail package stores. The sale of beer is not affected by a dry or wet designation.

Carter County permits liquor-by-the-drink county-wide, and retail package stores are restricted to Elizabethton city limits (limited to three stores maximum).

In Tennessee, a retail package store may deliver alcoholic beverages to residents without requiring an additional permit, license, or approval from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). However, such deliveries are subject to specific restrictions. These include informing the ABC of the intent to deliver and posting a $1,000 bond, delivering only to the physical address indicated by the individual placing the order, and maintaining records of all deliveries. Additionally, deliveries must be made during authorized hours of sale, and the retailer must verify the recipient's ID.

Businesses whose primary source of revenue comes from food delivery may obtain a delivery service license to contract with certain off-premises retailers to deliver beverage alcohol to consumers. To obtain this license, the business must meet specific requirements, including deriving at least 50% of its gross sales from food products or prepared food, having a written contract with the beverage alcohol retailers, and conducting criminal background checks for delivery employees.

There are also private companies, such as Minibar Delivery, that offer alcohol delivery services in Tennessee. They deliver wine, liquor, beer, and more to your door in as little as 30-60 minutes, depending on factors such as time of day, order volume, and traffic conditions.

Drinking laws in Carter County

On-Premises Consumption:

On-premises consumption refers to drinking at bars and restaurants. In Carter County, the sale of liquor for on-premises consumption is prohibited. However, beer and wine can be served between 6:00 a.m. and midnight from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the sale of beer and wine is also allowed, but only from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.

Off-Premises Consumption:

Off-premises consumption involves purchasing alcohol from retail stores, package stores, and gas stations for consumption elsewhere. In Carter County, the sale of packaged liquor in these establishments is prohibited on Sundays. From Monday to Saturday, packaged liquor may be sold between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

For packaged beer and wine, the sale is prohibited on Sundays, and they can only be sold from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday.

It is important to note that these laws may vary within the county, and some areas may have additional restrictions.

County-Wide Restrictions:

Carter County has specific restrictions on the sale of alcohol that apply throughout the county. These include:

• No sale of alcohol on Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.
• No sale of alcohol before 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

State-Wide Drinking Laws:

In addition to the regulations specific to Carter County, Tennessee has state-wide drinking laws that apply across all counties:

• The legal drinking age is 21.
• Open container laws prohibit possessing open containers of alcohol in vehicles, except in the case of passengers or limousines.
• Businesses with on-premises consumption licenses, like bars and restaurants, can sell drinks from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., Monday to Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.
• Grocery and liquor stores cannot sell alcohol past 11:00 p.m. every day.
• Bars are required to close by 3:00 a.m. every day.
• It is illegal to sell alcohol to minors, and ID checks are mandatory for individuals who do not appear to be over 50.

These laws provide a comprehensive framework for drinking regulations in Carter County, Tennessee, ensuring the responsible sale and consumption of alcohol.

Frequently asked questions