The Fourth of July is a popular time for Americans to celebrate with a cold beer or other alcoholic drinks. While some states have specific rules about the sale of alcohol on Independence Day, most allow the sale of beer, wine, and spirits. In some states, like Alabama, liquor stores may be closed, but beer and wine can still be purchased at grocery stores. In other states, like Tennessee, the sale of alcohol is permitted on the Fourth of July, but only beer and wine are sold in grocery stores. Ultimately, it's important to check the specific rules and regulations for your state and local area, as well as the hours of operation for your local stores.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Can you buy beer on the 4th of July? | Yes |
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? | Yes, but it depends on the state. For example, in New York, grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and "wine products", but all other alcohol sales are restricted to licensed liquor stores. |
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? | It depends on the state. For example, in New York, alcohol can be served 24 hours a day, but individual county and municipality laws apply. |
Are there any states that prohibit the sale of alcohol on the 4th of July? | No, but liquor stores are not required to be open on the 4th of July. |
What You'll Learn
Beer can be purchased in most states on the 4th of July
In Tennessee, for example, it was only made legal to buy beer, wine, and spirits on the 4th of July in 2018. Similarly, in Connecticut, a 1982 statute amended a previous law prohibiting alcohol sales on major holidays, allowing liquor sales on the 4th of July when it falls on a Saturday.
Some states, like Tennessee and Connecticut, have specific laws permitting alcohol sales on Independence Day, while others have no restrictions on that date. These include New York, which allows 24-hour alcohol sales with some county and municipality laws applying, and Texas, which has no restrictions on retail alcohol sales on the 4th of July.
However, it's important to note that each state has different laws and regulations regarding alcohol sales, and these can vary depending on the type of alcohol, the day of the week, and the location within the state. For instance, while alcohol sales are permitted on the 4th of July in Alabama, all liquor stores will be closed except for two specific stores. Additionally, grocery stores in Alabama are only allowed to sell wine with an alcohol content below 14% and beer with an alcohol content under 6%.
Therefore, while beer can generally be purchased in most states on Independence Day, it's always a good idea to check the specific laws and regulations in your state, as well as the hours of operation for local stores.
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Liquor stores are not required to be open on the 4th of July
While you can buy alcohol on the Fourth of July in the United States, liquor stores are not required to be open. It is up to the discretion of individual store owners whether they wish to keep their liquor stores open on the national holiday.
In Connecticut, for example, a 1982 statute amended a law that prohibited the sale of alcohol on some major holidays. According to the Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr., package stores may remain open and grocery stores with a beer permit may sell beer on the Fourth of July. However, he clarified that liquor stores are not mandated to open on the national holiday.
Similarly, in Alabama, all liquor stores will be closed on the Fourth of July except for Store 239 in Orange Beach and Store 240 in Gulf Shores.
Therefore, while alcohol sales are permitted on the Fourth of July in most states, specific rules and regulations may vary depending on the state and county. It is always a good idea to check with your local liquor stores about their operating hours before planning any celebrations.
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Beer and wine can be purchased in grocery stores
In some states, the type of alcohol sold in grocery stores is restricted. For instance, in Kentucky, grocery stores can only sell beer, while in California, grocery stores can sell wine with an alcohol content below 14% and beer with an alcohol content under 6%. In other states, such as Hawaii and Illinois, liquor, beer, and wine are all available for purchase in grocery stores.
It's important to note that while alcohol can generally be purchased on the Fourth of July, there may be variations in the hours of sale and some stores may choose to close for the holiday. Additionally, there are "dry" towns and counties where alcohol sales are restricted. Therefore, it's always a good idea to check the local laws and store hours before heading out to buy alcohol on Independence Day.
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Alcohol sales are restricted to certain hours
Arkansas allows alcohol to be served from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., while California permits alcohol service from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Colorado allows alcohol to be served from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Connecticut permits alcohol sales on the Fourth of July from 8 a.m. to midnight. Delaware restricts alcohol service to the hours of 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., while Florida allows alcohol to be served from 7 a.m. to midnight.
Georgia has varying hours depending on the day of the week, with alcohol permitted to be served from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Hawaii's hours vary by county but alcohol can usually be sold from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. In Idaho, alcohol can be served from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Illinois permits alcohol service from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. every day of the week.
Indiana, Iowa, and Kansas all allow alcohol to be served from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. Kentucky permits alcohol service from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Saturday, but prohibits it on Sundays. Louisiana allows alcohol to be served from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Maine permits alcohol service from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Maryland restricts alcohol sales to the hours of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., while Michigan allows alcohol to be served from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Minnesota and Mississippi both allow alcohol to be served from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., while Missouri permits alcohol service from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Montana allows alcohol to be served from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Nebraska permits alcohol service from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Nevada is the only state that permits alcohol to be purchased at any time of day, while New Hampshire restricts alcohol service to the hours of 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
New Jersey allows alcohol to be served from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., and New Mexico permits alcohol service from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. New York allows alcohol to be served 24 hours a day, although individual county and municipality laws apply. Most counties in New York allow alcohol sales from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays. North Dakota permits alcohol service from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. daily, and Ohio allows alcohol to be served from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Oklahoma liquor stores are open from 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, but hours vary for convenience and grocery stores. Oregon requires liquor stores to be open between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., but they cannot open before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. Pennsylvania allows grocery and convenience stores to set their own hours for alcohol sales. Rhode Island permits alcohol sales from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
South Carolina restricts liquor stores to the hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, while off-premises beer and wine sales can be made 24 hours a day. South Dakota permits alcohol to be sold, served, or consumed between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m., although municipalities and counties can impose more restricted ordinances. Tennessee allows alcohol to be sold from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. Texas permits alcohol sales from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
Utah state liquor stores are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and they are closed on Sundays and national holidays. Vermont allows alcohol to be served from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. in bars and 6 a.m. to midnight for retailers. Virginia permits alcohol to be sold from 6 a.m. to midnight, and Washington allows alcohol service from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. West Virginia liquor stores are open from 6 a.m. to midnight every day of the week, and Wisconsin permits alcohol sales from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wyoming typically allows alcohol to be sold from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., although this varies by municipality and county.
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Alcohol sales are banned in some states on certain holidays
In addition, some states have restrictions on the types of alcohol that can be purchased and where they can be purchased. For instance, in Tennessee, only beer and wine can be sold in grocery stores, while liquor must be purchased from a licensed retailer. Similarly, in New York, grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and "wine products," but other types of alcohol must be bought from licensed liquor stores.
It's also important to note that while alcohol sales may be permitted in certain states on the Fourth of July, liquor stores are not required to be open. Therefore, it's always a good idea to check with your local store to confirm their hours of operation before planning your holiday celebrations.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy beer on the 4th of July. However, liquor stores are not required to be open on the 4th of July, so it is best to check with your local store.
While there are no federal laws prohibiting the sale of beer on the 4th of July, some states may have specific regulations. For example, in Alabama, all liquor stores will be closed except for Store 239 in Orange Beach and Store 240 in Gulf Shores. Check your state's specific laws and local store hours before heading out.
The legal drinking and purchasing age for alcohol in all 50 U.S. states is 21 and above. Make sure to carry a valid ID when purchasing alcohol.