Buying Beer In New Hampshire On Christmas: Is It Possible?

If you're planning on buying beer in New Hampshire on Christmas Day, you might be disappointed. While there's no official ban on alcohol sales in the state, the government runs the liquor and wine retailers, and they don't allow sales on public holidays such as Christmas. So, if you're planning a party or get-together, make sure you stock up in advance! This is in contrast to neighbouring states such as Maine and Vermont, where you can buy alcohol at any time, on any day, as long as the store is open.

New Hampshire alcohol laws

Alcohol laws in New Hampshire are strict, and the state has a government monopoly over the sale of wine and spirits. Beer and other beverages with an alcohol content of 6% or less are not sold by the monopoly package stores. Grocery and convenience stores may sell beer and packaged beverages up to 6% alcohol, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Restaurants and bars may sell beer, wine, and spirits from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

The minimum age to sell alcohol in a store for off-site consumption is 16, but a manager of at least 18 years of age must be present. The minimum age to serve alcohol in a restaurant or bar is 18. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol in New Hampshire, including for religious reasons. It is also a crime to use a false ID to buy alcohol, sell a false ID, or lend an ID to someone else to purchase alcohol.

New Hampshire has several dry towns that prohibit the sale of alcohol, including Ellsworth, Brookfield, Canterbury, Dummer, Eaton, Hancock, Hebron, and New Castle. There are also neo-prohibition towns with limited alcohol sales, such as Orange, Sandwich, Temple, Tuftonboro, and Washington.

On Christmas Day, the sale of alcohol is banned in New Hampshire. The state government controls liquor and wine retailers and does not allow sales on this holiday. However, residents can purchase alcohol in neighbouring states like Maine and Vermont, which do not have such restrictions.

Where to buy beer in New Hampshire

If you're looking to buy beer in New Hampshire, there are a variety of options available to you, including specialty beer stores, grocery and convenience stores, and restaurants and bars. Here is a list of places where you can purchase beer in the state:

Specialty Beer Stores:

• A&G Homebrew Supply, Portsmouth
• Bert’s Better Beers, Hooksett
• Barley & Hops Craft Beer and Wine Shoppe, Milford
• The Beer Store, Nashua
• The Beverage King, West Lebanon
• Border Brew Supply, Salem
• BrewTopia, Keene
• The Craft Beer Cellar, Portsmouth and Nashua
• Jasper’s Homebrew and Winemaking Supply, Nashua
• Lazy Dog Beer Shop, Londonderry
• Prost Specialty Beer & Wine, Hampton
• Top Shelf Brews, Hampton

Grocery and Convenience Stores:

• Bunny’s Superette, Manchester
• Candia Road Store and Brewery, Manchester
• Chase Street Market and Deli, Plymouth
• Concord Cooperative Market, Concord
• Johnson’s Marketplace, New Durham
• Littleton Food Co-op, Littleton
• Lucia’s Bodega, Windham
• McKinnon’s Meat Market, Salem and Portsmouth
• Milano’s Mini Market, Concord
• North End Superette, Manchester
• On the Vine Marketplace, Exeter
• The Vista Country Store, North Conway
• Wayne’s Market, North Woodstock

Restaurants and Bars:

While specific restaurants and bars are not listed, these establishments are permitted to sell beer, wine, and spirits from 6 am to 1 am in New Hampshire.

It is worth noting that New Hampshire has strict alcohol laws, and some towns, such as Ellsworth, prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages entirely. Additionally, the state has a government monopoly over the sale of wine and distilled spirits, which can result in limited product selection and higher prices. However, grocery and convenience stores are allowed to sell beer and packaged beverages with alcohol content up to 6%, and you can now order alcohol online for delivery in New Hampshire.

Christmas Day beer sales

If you live in New Hampshire, you should be prepared for Christmas Day beer and alcohol sales to be banned. While there is no official ban, the state-run liquor and wine retailers do not allow sales on Christmas Day. This means that you will be unable to purchase beer or alcohol from any grocery or convenience stores, or state-owned retailers.

The sale of alcohol in New Hampshire is regulated by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC). The NHLC controls the sale of wine and distilled spirits (liquor), and does not sell beer or any beverage with an alcohol content of 6% or less. Grocery and convenience stores are permitted to sell these lower-alcohol beverages, but not on Christmas Day.

If you are planning to consume alcohol on Christmas Day in New Hampshire, you will need to purchase it in advance. It may be worth noting that the sale of alcohol is also prohibited on Easter and Thanksgiving in New Hampshire.

If you are travelling to neighbouring states, you may find different rules apply. In Maine and Vermont, for example, you can buy alcohol anytime and anywhere that is open on the holidays. In Connecticut, bars and restaurants that are open on Christmas Day will be able to serve you a drink.

Drinking age in New Hampshire

New Hampshire has strict alcohol laws that apply to both residents and visitors. The minimum drinking age in the state is 21. There is only one exception to this rule: an underage person cannot be prosecuted for drinking if they are caught while seeking medical help for someone suffering from an alcohol overdose. Breaking the drinking law can lead to a fine of $300 for a first offence and $600 for a second offence.

The state has a government monopoly over the sale of wine and distilled spirits (liquor). The monopoly package stores do not sell beer or any beverage with an alcohol content of 6% or less. Grocery and convenience stores may sell beer and packaged beverages with an alcohol content of up to 6%. They may sell alcohol from 6:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Restaurants and bars may sell beer, wine and spirits from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

It is illegal for those under 21 to consume alcohol for any reason, including for religious purposes. It is also a crime to use a false ID to buy alcohol, with retailers able to sue anyone underage who uses a false ID to buy alcohol from them. It is also illegal for anyone under 21 to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.02.

New Hampshire has considered lowering the drinking age, including in 2009 when a proposal to lower the legal age from 21 to 18 was rejected. More recently, an attempt to allow minors aged 18-20 to drink while in the presence of a responsible adult aged over 21 was also rejected.

Alcohol sales hours

Grocery and Convenience Stores

Grocery and convenience stores in New Hampshire are permitted to sell beer and packaged beverages with an alcohol content of up to 6% from 6:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. daily.

Restaurants and Bars

On-sale licensees, including restaurants and bars, are allowed to sell alcohol from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

State-Run Liquor and Wine Retailers

State-run liquor and wine retailers in New Hampshire typically operate from 6:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. On Sundays, they usually operate from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, it is important to check the sales hours for each store as they may vary. State-run liquor stores remain closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

It is worth noting that some towns in New Hampshire have additional restrictions or even prohibit the sale of alcohol entirely. For example, Ellsworth is a dry town, meaning it prohibits the sale of any alcoholic beverages. Other towns, such as Brookfield, Canterbury, Dummer, Eaton, Hancock, Hebron, and New Castle, have limited alcohol sales.

Additionally, it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 in New Hampshire, and proper identification is required.

Frequently asked questions