Buying Beer On Christmas Day In Mississippi: What's The Deal?

Mississippi has some of the most complicated alcohol laws in the country. While it is not a dry state, many of its counties are. In Mississippi, beer is treated differently from distilled spirits and wine. Beer can be sold for off-premise consumption 24/7, but on-premise sales are restricted to 7 am until midnight. Off-premise sales of other alcoholic beverages are legal between 10 am and 10 pm, and on-premise sales are allowed from 10 am until midnight. Alcohol sales at liquor stores are prohibited on Sundays and Christmas Day. However, beer and light wine (both under 5% ABV) can be sold in grocery stores, and these sales appear not to be affected by the Sunday and Christmas Day restrictions.

Beer and light wine are available in grocery and convenience stores 24/7

In Mississippi, beer and light wine are available in grocery and convenience stores 24/7. This is because, in Mississippi, beer is not considered an "alcoholic beverage" and is therefore regulated differently from distilled spirits and wine. Beer is defined as a malt-based beverage with an alcohol content of no more than 8% by weight. Light wine is a wine-based product with an alcohol content of less than 5% by weight, typically marketed as wine coolers.

While beer and light wine can be purchased at grocery and convenience stores at any time, wine and distilled spirits can only be purchased at liquor stores, also known as package stores, during specific hours. These stores are closed on Sundays and Christmas Day, and their hours of operation are restricted from 10 am to 10 pm from Monday to Saturday.

It is important to note that Mississippi has several dry counties, where the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, including beer and light wine, are prohibited. Additionally, the hours for alcohol sales may vary across the state, as local governments have the authority to change them.

When purchasing alcohol in Mississippi, individuals must be at least 21 years old, and it is illegal to bring liquor or wine products into the state from outside.

Wine and spirits can only be purchased at liquor stores

Mississippi has some of the most complicated alcohol laws in the United States. The state has a government monopoly on selling alcohol with an ABV of over 14%, and wine and spirits can only be purchased at liquor stores. These stores are closed on Sundays and Christmas Day.

In Mississippi, beer is defined as a malt-based beverage that has no more than 8% alcohol by weight. Beer with an alcohol content greater than 8% is not legal in the state. Wine-based products with an alcohol content of less than 5% are regulated like beer and are called light wines or wine coolers. Spirits-based products with an alcohol content of 6% or less are also regulated in the same way.

Beer, light wine, and light spirits cannot be sold in package stores, and alcoholic beverages cannot be sold in convenience or grocery stores. Alcoholic beverages are defined as either a distilled spirit with an ABV of more than 6%, or a wine product with an ABV of over 5%.

Liquor stores in Mississippi are only permitted to open from 10 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday. They are not allowed to open on Sundays or Christmas Day. This means that if you want to buy wine or spirits on Christmas Day in Mississippi, you are out of luck. However, beer and light wine can be purchased at grocery and convenience stores 24/7, so if you are happy to settle for a lower-ABV drink, you can still get your hands on something.

It is worth noting that Mississippi's alcohol laws vary across the state, and some areas allow all alcohol sales 24/7. Additionally, the laws are subject to change by the local government, so it is always a good idea to check the regulations in your specific county.

Liquor stores are closed on Sundays and Christmas Day

In Mississippi, liquor stores are closed on Sundays and Christmas Day. This means that wine and distilled spirits with more than 5% ABV cannot be purchased on those days. However, beer and light wine are sold at grocery and convenience stores that are open 24/7, so it is still possible to buy alcoholic beverages even when liquor stores are closed.

The laws regarding alcohol sales in Mississippi are quite complex and can vary across the state. While liquor stores are generally closed on Sundays and Christmas Day, there may be some exceptions in certain areas. For example, a bill (HB 384) was proposed in 2023 to allow package retailers to sell alcohol on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in "wet" cities or counties, where alcohol sales are permitted. This bill passed in the Mississippi House and moved to the Senate for consideration, but it is unclear if it was enacted into law.

Additionally, Mississippi has several dry counties where the sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited. These dry counties include both those that are fully dry, with restrictions on all types of alcohol, and those that are partially dry, with restrictions on only certain types of alcohol. As of 2023, there were 23 fully dry counties and several partially dry counties in Mississippi.

The hours for alcohol sales in Mississippi can also vary by location. While liquor stores typically operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, these hours can be expanded or restricted by local governments. On-premise alcohol sales, such as in bars and restaurants, are generally allowed from 7 a.m. to midnight, but there is no universal closing time for bars.

It's worth noting that Mississippi has some unique drinking laws. For example, the state does not have an open container law, which means it is not illegal to have an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. However, driving while intoxicated is still illegal, and if an open container is spotted by a police officer, they will test the driver's BAC level.

Mississippi has several dry counties

Mississippi has a complicated relationship with alcohol. While not a dry state, Mississippi has several dry counties where alcohol sales and distribution are prohibited. In Mississippi, the Local Option gives each county the authority to choose whether it can sell or distribute alcohol. Notably, there are 25 wet cities within these dry counties.

In 2020, there were 29 dry counties in Mississippi, including two in South Mississippi: George County and unincorporated parts of Pearl River County. However, a bill passed in the same year changed the default from dry to wet, allowing the sale of alcohol without the need for an election. This bill also gave counties the option to hold an election to return to being dry.

The sale of alcohol in Mississippi is subject to various regulations. For example, liquor stores are open from 10 am to 10 pm from Monday to Saturday, while convenience and grocery stores can sell beer and light wine 24/7. On-premise alcohol sales are permitted from 7 am to midnight, and Mississippi has different wet-dry maps for alcoholic beverages and beer/light wine to indicate where alcohol sales are allowed.

The state's alcohol laws can be challenging to navigate, and it's essential to refer to the most up-to-date information available.

Minors between 18 and 20 can drink beer with parental consent

In Mississippi, the legal drinking age is 21, which is in line with most other states. However, there is an exception for minors between the ages of 18 and 20. In this age group, individuals are allowed to drink beer and only beer with the explicit consent of their parent or legal guardian. This exception also applies to the consumption and possession of light wine.

This exception means that a parent or legal guardian can provide their child, who is 18 or older but under 21, with light wine or beer. The minor may then consume and possess these beverages in the presence of their parent or guardian. It is important to note that this exception does not apply to other alcoholic beverages, such as spirits or full-strength wine.

The laws regarding alcohol in Mississippi can be quite complex and vary across counties. For example, Mississippi has several dry counties where the sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited. Additionally, the hours for purchasing alcohol can differ depending on the type of retailer and the county.

It is worth noting that while Mississippi does not have a specific open container law, it is still illegal to drive while intoxicated. The legal limit for drivers under 21 years old is a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.02%, and for those 21 and older, it is 0.08% BAC.

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