Buying Beer In Columbia, Sc On Sundays: What's Allowed?

South Carolina's alcohol laws can be confusing, and they vary from county to county. So, can you buy beer in Columbia, South Carolina, on a Sunday? The short answer is yes – Columbia, in Richland County, allows the sale of beer and wine seven days a week, 24 hours a day. However, this wasn't always the case. In 2024, a bill was passed to allow the sale of alcohol at retail locations and distilleries on Sunday afternoons, but only after counties and municipalities held referendums to let voters decide.

Beer can be purchased in Columbia, SC, on Sundays

Yes, beer can be purchased in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sundays. However, this wasn't always the case.

In South Carolina, Sunday beer sales are banned statewide. However, some counties and cities, including Columbia, have been granted permission to sell beer on Sundays through referendums.

In Columbia, beer and wine can be purchased at grocery and convenience stores on Sundays, and food establishments with local option permits can sell beer, wine, and spirits on Sunday mornings.

While beer can be purchased in Columbia on Sundays, there are still some restrictions on alcohol sales in the city and state. For example, liquor stores in South Carolina must close on Sundays, and there are specific hours during which alcohol can be sold on the other days of the week. Additionally, there are laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors, and open container laws that restrict the transport or consumption of open containers of alcohol in public places.

Sunday beer sales are banned across South Carolina

South Carolina's Sunday liquor laws vary depending on the location. Some counties and cities have been granted permission to sell beer on Sundays through referendums. For example, in Columbia, Richland County, beer and wine can be sold seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

In 2024, a bill was passed by the South Carolina House to allow the sale of alcohol at retail locations and distilleries on Sunday afternoons. However, the bill requires counties and municipalities to hold a referendum, allowing voters to decide whether to implement the change.

The sale of alcohol is currently only permitted at restaurants and bars on Sundays. The bill would make it legal at retail outlets and distilleries from 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays.

While South Carolina is not a dry state, and there are no dry counties, the sale of alcohol is restricted at certain times and on Sundays in most areas.

Some counties and cities have been granted Sunday sales permission

While Sunday beer sales are banned statewide in South Carolina, some counties and cities have been granted permission to sell beer on Sundays through referendums. These referendums allow voters in a county to decide whether to implement the change.

In these counties and cities, both on-premise and off-premise sales can take place on Sundays. On-premise locations, such as restaurants and bars, are permitted to sell beer from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays in counties with permission. Off-premise locations, such as grocery and convenience stores, can sell beer 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in counties with Sunday sales permission.

The following counties in South Carolina have been granted Sunday sales permission:

• Beaufort
• Berkeley
• Charleston
• Colleton
• Dorchester
• Georgetown
• Greenwood
• Horry
• Jasper
• Kershaw
• Lancaster
• Lexington
• Marion
• Newberry
• Oconee
• Richland (unincorporated areas only)
• Saluda
• Spartanburg (excluding Wellford)
• York

Additionally, the following cities have been granted permission:

Columbia (Richland County)

The laws regarding alcohol sales on Sundays vary across the state, and it is always a good idea to check the local regulations before purchasing alcohol.

Bars and restaurants are not permitted to sell beer on Sundays

Bars and restaurants in South Carolina are not permitted to sell beer on Sundays. However, this varies depending on the location. Some counties and cities have been granted permission to sell beer on Sundays through referendums. For example, in Columbia, Richland County, restaurants with permits can sell beer, wine, and spirits on Sundays.

On other days of the week, bars and restaurants in South Carolina are allowed to sell beer from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. On Saturdays, they must stop serving beer at midnight. These establishments offer beer on draft and in bottles and cans. It is important to note that beer cannot be purchased from bars or restaurants for off-premise consumption.

The laws regarding alcohol sales on Sundays in South Carolina are complex and can vary by county and city. While some areas have been granted exceptions through referendums, the sale of beer on Sundays remains restricted in many parts of the state.

Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer on Sundays with a permit

Grocery and convenience stores in South Carolina can sell beer on Sundays, but only if they have a permit to do so. This is because Sunday alcohol sales are banned statewide in South Carolina, but this ban can be overturned by voters in individual counties and municipalities.

In York County, for example, voters approved a referendum in 2012 to allow beer and wine sales seven days a week starting on December 9th. The referendum allowed local grocery and convenience stores to obtain a permit to sell beer and wine every day of the week. The $1,200 permit upgrade is valid through May 31, 2014, and allows retailers to sell the beverages to adults (ages 21 and over) for off-premise consumption.

In Spartanburg, voters approved Sunday alcohol retail sales in 2024, allowing stores to apply for licenses with the state to sell alcohol on Sundays.

In Columbia, grocery and convenience stores with permits can sell beer and wine seven days a week and 24 hours a day.

In Pickens County, voters approved Sunday alcohol sales in 2022, allowing the sale of beer and wine on Sundays at convenience stores or grocery stores, and at approved businesses such as restaurants and bars.

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