Memorial Day Beer Run: Georgia's Legal Purchase Options

Alcohol laws in the United States are determined by individual states, with many states allowing local counties to set their own rules and regulations. While alcohol sales are typically permitted on Memorial Day, the specific laws and restrictions vary from state to state and even county to county. So, can you buy beer on Memorial Day in Georgia?

Beer can be purchased in Georgia on Sundays

Where to Buy Beer on Sundays in Georgia

You can buy beer on Sundays in Georgia at various retailers, including bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, breweries and taprooms, and gas stations. However, the specific locations that sell beer may differ by county.

When to Buy Beer on Sundays in Georgia

The hours for purchasing beer on Sundays in Georgia are typically from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. for off-premises consumption. However, some jurisdictions have a "brunch law" that allows bars and restaurants to start serving alcohol as early as 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Dry Counties in Georgia

It is important to note that there are several dry counties in Georgia, such as Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. These counties may have different regulations regarding the sale of beer on Sundays or may prohibit alcohol sales altogether.

Memorial Day Beer Purchases in Georgia

Although I could not find specific information about beer purchases on Memorial Day in Georgia, the sources indicate that alcohol sales are generally allowed on holidays. Additionally, Georgia does not prohibit alcohol sales on any specific days, aside from those decided by individual counties.

Georgia's dry counties

Georgia has always had a complicated relationship with alcohol, and this is reflected in its laws. While alcohol sales are permitted in most of the state, there are some surprising rules that are left over from the days of Prohibition.

Georgia specifically allows any local jurisdiction to go dry, without limitation on how that decision is made. As of 2023, there were nine dry counties in Georgia: Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. White County is also dry, except for the city of Helen.

In these dry counties, retail liquor sales are illegal. While consumers can legally drink there, alcohol sales are prohibited.

Butts and Decatur counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption in bars and restaurants, but off-site consumption is allowed. Upson County is the opposite: it prohibits retail alcohol sales but permits alcohol service in bars and restaurants as of 2014.

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

Beer delivery services in Georgia

Beer lovers in Georgia have several delivery options available to them.

Minibar Delivery

Minibar Delivery offers beer, wine, spirits, and mixers delivered to your door in as little as 30-60 minutes. They partner with local stores to source their products, and there is a $5 delivery fee per order.

GotoLiquorStore

GotoLiquorStore is an online alcohol ordering platform that partners with local retailers to allow consumers of legal drinking age to buy alcohol online and have it delivered to their door or pick it up from the store. They offer beer, wine, spirits, and mixers, and there is a delivery fee defined by the stores themselves.

Overproof

Overproof is a sales enablement tool that helps alcohol brands identify their target accounts for their marketing strategies in each market. They also offer custom AI and software development to optimise sales teams and commercial excellence tooling.

Local Wineries and Retailers

Since the pandemic, local wineries and retailers with the right licenses have been able to deliver beer and wine directly to consumers in Georgia. Only licensed alcohol retailers are eligible to deliver unopened alcoholic beverages in their original containers, and only restaurants can deliver mixed drinks.

Dry Counties

It is important to note that certain counties in Georgia are "dry counties," meaning retail liquor sales are illegal in those jurisdictions. As of 2023, these include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. White County is also dry, except for the city of Helen. Butts and Decatur counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption, but allow off-site consumption sales. Upson County prohibits retail alcohol sales but allows alcohol service in bars and restaurants.

Timing

Alcohol sales hours vary by jurisdiction in Georgia, but state law sets the earliest and latest sales times. From Monday to Saturday, alcohol sales can't begin earlier than 8 am and can't end later than 11:45 pm for gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms. On Sundays, these off-premises retailers can only sell alcohol from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm. Bars and restaurants may have a "brunch law" that allows alcohol service to begin at 11 am on Sundays, and they must stop serving alcohol by 2 am Monday to Saturday and 11:30 pm on Sundays.

On-premise beer consumption in Georgia

On-premise beer consumption laws in Georgia vary by county and even by city. While the state government has set broad rules for alcohol sales, local jurisdictions are allowed to set more restrictive rules.

From Monday to Saturday, on-premise beer sales in Georgia can begin as early as 9 am and must end by 2 am. On Sundays, on-premise beer sales can start at 11 am or 11:30 am and must end by 11:30 pm. However, some counties may require bars to close earlier.

It's important to note that Georgia has "dry counties," which prohibit retail liquor sales altogether. As of 2023, the dry counties in Georgia include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. White County is also dry, except for the city of Helen. Additionally, Butts and Decatur counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption in places like bars and restaurants, while Upson County allows on-site consumption but prohibits retail alcohol sales.

To further complicate matters, some cities have enacted a "brunch bill" that allows bars and restaurants to serve alcohol starting at 11 am on Sundays.

It's always a good idea to check the local laws and regulations in your specific county or city in Georgia to understand the exact rules governing on-premise beer consumption.

Alcohol sales hours in Georgia

Alcohol sales laws in Georgia can vary from county to county, but there are some statewide rules.

From Monday to Saturday, alcohol sales in Georgia can begin no earlier than 8 am and must end by 11:45 pm. On Sundays, alcohol sales can take place from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm. These hours apply to gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms.

Bars and restaurants have slightly different hours. They can sell alcohol from 9 am to 2 am, Monday to Saturday, and from 11 am to 11:30 pm on Sundays. Some jurisdictions have a "brunch law" that allows bars and restaurants to serve alcohol from 11 am on Sundays.

It's important to note that Georgia has several dry counties, which prohibit the retail sale of liquor. These include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. White County is also dry, except for the city of Helen. Butts and Decatur counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption but allow off-site consumption. Upson County prohibits retail alcohol sales but permits alcohol service in bars and restaurants.

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