Buying Beer In Georgia: Christmas Day Restrictions

Alcohol sales are regulated by state governments in the United States, but in many states, liquor laws vary from county to county. Georgia is one of several states that allow individual counties to create their own rules and regulations around alcohol sales. While sales are generally prohibited on Christmas Day, municipalities with 400,000 or more residents can decide if they want to allow Christmas Day alcohol sales after 12:30 pm.

Beer can be bought on Christmas Day in some Georgia counties

Georgia has some dry counties, but it is not a dry state. The state does not heavily restrict the sale, production, or consumption of liquor. However, there are certain times when alcohol may not be sold, including on Christmas Day.

The state of Georgia does not prohibit alcohol sales on any specific days, but it does allow counties to prohibit sales on days such as Christmas Day. While sales are generally prohibited on Christmas Day, municipalities with 400,000 or more residents can decide if they want to allow Christmas Day alcohol sales after 12:30 pm.

The governing authority of any county or municipality in Georgia may, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages on Christmas Day. This means that, while some counties in Georgia may allow beer to be sold on Christmas Day, others may not.

The last call for bars varies from county to county, as Georgia does not have a set time for all bars to close. Instead, counties set the time for the last call, with the average closing time for bars being 2 am. Some counties may require bars to close earlier.

In Georgia, beer and wine can be purchased at convenience and grocery stores, while distilled spirits can only be purchased at licensed package stores. Although the individual counties are allowed to set the days and time frames for alcohol sales, they may not permit sales before 8 am or after 11:45 pm from Monday through Saturday.

On Sundays, beer may be sold from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm. On-premise consumption regulations are determined by each county and vary. These times may change depending on the county, as counties can restrict permitted alcohol sale hours but can't allow retail sales outside of the above times.

Georgia's dry counties

In Georgia, the sale of alcohol is regulated by the state government, but individual counties are also allowed to create their own rules and regulations. This means that laws surrounding alcohol sales can vary widely across the state.

As of 2023, there are nine "dry counties" in Georgia: Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. In these counties, retail liquor sales are illegal. White County is also considered a dry county, but the city of Helen allows alcohol sales.

Additionally, Butts and Decatur counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption in bars and restaurants, while Upson County prohibits retail alcohol sales but permits alcohol service in bars and restaurants.

While Georgia's Sunday alcohol laws used to ban sales across most of the state, this is no longer the case. In 2011, 105 out of 127 communities voted to end the ban, allowing alcohol sales on Sundays from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm. However, dry counties are not permitted to sell alcohol on Sundays.

It's important to note that the laws regarding alcohol sales in Georgia can be complex and may change over time. For the most up-to-date information, it is recommended to refer to official sources, such as Georgia's Department of Revenue website.

On-premise consumption regulations

Some counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption in places like bars and restaurants, while others prohibit retail alcohol sales but allow alcohol service in bars and restaurants.

In Georgia, bars and restaurants that serve alcohol may do so from 9 am to 2 am, Monday through Friday. On Sundays, they can serve alcohol from 11 am until 11:30 pm. Some cities have enacted a "'brunch bill' that allows bars and restaurants to sell alcohol as early as 11 am on Sundays.

The last call for bars varies from county to county, with the average closing time being 2 am. Some counties may require bars to close earlier.

The minimum drinking age in Georgia

In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21. This was changed from 18 in 1984, and applies to the state of Georgia. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to "purchase, attempt to purchase, or knowingly possess any alcoholic beverage".

However, there are some exceptions to the law. In Georgia, minors are allowed to drink alcohol with parental permission, and in the private residence of their parent. In addition, minors may drink for medical purposes, with a prescription, or for religious reasons, such as communion.

Despite these exceptions, providing alcohol to minors who are not your own is illegal. Several Georgia counties and municipalities have "social host laws" to protect minors from underage drinking parties. If law enforcement can prove that the host knowingly held an underage drinking party, they could be charged with "providing a place for underage drinking".

The state of Georgia also has strict laws surrounding the sale of alcohol. While the state allows alcohol sales from 8 am to 11:45 pm Monday to Saturday, and 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm on Sundays, individual counties are permitted to set their own rules and regulations. For example, some counties are dry counties, meaning they don't allow the retail sale of liquor at all.

Georgia's open container laws

The term "open container" is defined by Georgia law as any container that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage, and either the container is open, the seal is broken, or the contents have been partially removed. The "passenger area" of a car is also clearly defined by the statute and includes the area designed for the driver and passengers, as well as any areas readily accessible to them while seated. However, there are exceptions for locked glove compartments, trunks, and areas behind the rearmost upright seat in vehicles without trunks.

The law does not apply to passenger areas of vehicles designed for transportation for compensation, such as party buses or limousines, or to the living quarters of motor homes. Additionally, there are provisions for transporting homemade malt beverages and partially consumed bottles of wine from restaurants under certain conditions.

A violation of the open container law is considered a criminal non-moving traffic infraction and can result in a fine of up to $200 and two points on your driver's license. If you accumulate 15 or more points within 24 months, your license will be suspended for a year. If you are under 21, an open container conviction while driving can result in a 120-day license suspension, and you may also be charged with being a minor in possession.

While Georgia's open container laws only apply to vehicles, local jurisdictions have passed ordinances prohibiting open containers of alcohol in public spaces, with some notable exceptions, such as the historic district of downtown Savannah.

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