West Virginia's alcohol laws are complex, owing to a provision of the state constitution and work-arounds of its terms. While the state is not dry, it gives localities the power to become dry. West Virginia has one dry area: the town of Brandonville. The rest of the state is wet and allows the sale of alcohol.
In West Virginia, you can buy a beer seven days a week. On-premise retailers can sell all forms of alcohol between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. every day. Off-premise retailers can sell beer and wine from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. every day. Liquor can be sold for off-premise consumption between 6 a.m. and midnight.
West Virginia does place some Sunday restrictions. You can buy beer on Sunday, but liquor stores may not open on Sundays. Both on and off-premise consumption retailers are allowed to open during the same hours as the rest of the week.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Can you buy beer on Sunday in West Virginia? | Yes |
Hours for beer sale on Sundays | 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. |
Hours for liquor sale on Sundays | 1 p.m. to midnight |
Hours for wine sale on Sundays | 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. |
Hours for on-premise consumption on Sundays | 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. |
Hours for off-premise consumption on Sundays | 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. for beer and wine; 6 a.m. to midnight for liquor |
Days retail liquor outlets are closed | Easter Sunday and Christmas Day |
What You'll Learn
- Beer can be purchased in West Virginia on Sundays from 6 a.m
- Liquor stores are closed on Sundays
- On-premise retailers can sell alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day
- Off-premise retailers can sell beer and wine from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. and liquor until midnight
- West Virginia's alcohol laws are complex, with work-arounds to the state constitution's prohibition of intoxicating liquors
Beer can be purchased in West Virginia on Sundays from 6 a.m
Beer lovers in West Virginia can rejoice, as they can now purchase their favourite beverage any day of the week, including Sundays! This is thanks to the passing of Senate Bill 2020, which allows customers to legally purchase alcohol as early as 6 a.m. on Sundays.
Prior to this bill, buying alcohol on Sundays in West Virginia was more restricted. Retail stores could only sell liquor starting at 1 p.m. on Sundays, and only outside of restaurants. There were also no sales allowed on Easter and Christmas Day. The new bill has made the start times for alcohol sales consistent across the state, allowing retailers to sell all forms of alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day.
This change in law is expected to provide greater flexibility and promote economic development in the state. It also means that those with different work shifts, tourists, and those participating in events at various times of the day will now have more opportunities to purchase alcohol.
However, it's important to note that West Virginia still has some restrictions on alcohol sales. For example, liquor stores are not allowed to open on Sundays, and there is one dry area in the state: the town of Brandonville, where no alcohol can be purchased. Additionally, the sale of alcohol is prohibited daily between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and there are specific closing times for bars and private clubs.
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Liquor stores are closed on Sundays
In West Virginia, liquor stores can sell alcohol every day from 6 a.m. until midnight. This includes beer, wine, and liquor. All sales must be in their original packaging and for off-premise consumption. The only exception to the original packaging rule is for growlers. Delivery is also permitted.
The state has specific laws regarding the sale of liquor on Sundays. Retail liquor outlets may sell from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Sundays. Prior to the implementation of this law, retail stores could sell liquor on Sundays starting at 1 p.m., except on Easter and Christmas Day. Before March 2019, these stores couldn't sell alcohol at all on Sundays outside of restaurants.
While liquor stores are closed on Sundays, other retailers such as bars and restaurants can sell alcohol. In West Virginia, bars and restaurants can sell beer, wine, and liquor from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. seven days a week. They can also provide alcohol delivery, curbside pickup, and fill growlers.
It's important to note that West Virginia has one dry area: the town of Brandonville, where alcohol cannot be purchased. The rest of the state allows the sale of alcohol, with some restrictions on timing and location.
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On-premise retailers can sell alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day
On-premise retailers in West Virginia can sell all forms of alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. This includes bars and restaurants, which can also deliver alcohol as curbside pickup or home delivery. They can also sell and fill growlers.
On-premise retailers include bars and restaurants, which can sell beer, wine, and liquor within the designated hours. Private clubs, which are considered on-premise retailers, can sell alcohol from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. every day.
It's worth noting that West Virginia's alcohol laws are more complex than they may seem at first glance. The state constitution prohibits the consumption of "intoxicating liquors" in "saloons or other public places." To get around this, the state redefined standard beer as "non-intoxicating beer," allowing its sale in bars and restaurants.
While West Virginia is not a dry state, it does have one dry area: the town of Brandonville, where alcohol sales are prohibited.
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Off-premise retailers can sell beer and wine from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. and liquor until midnight
West Virginia's alcohol laws are complex, but they do allow for the sale of beer on Sundays.
Off-premise retailers can sell beer and wine from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, including Sundays. This includes grocery stores, gas stations, and package and liquor stores. However, liquor sales for off-premise consumption are only permitted until midnight. On Sundays, liquor stores can sell from 1 p.m. to midnight.
The state's alcohol laws have evolved over the years, with recent changes aimed at providing greater flexibility and promoting economic development. While West Virginia is not a dry state, it does have one dry area: the town of Brandonville, where alcohol sales are prohibited.
The state's alcohol laws also include some peculiarities, such as the definition of "non-intoxicating beer", which allows for the sale of beer in bars and restaurants, and the work-arounds to the state constitution's prohibition of the consumption of "intoxicating liquors" in public places.
It's important to note that while alcohol sales are permitted during specific hours, individual businesses may choose to close on Sundays or other days for various reasons. Additionally, state-run liquor stores are required to close on Christmas and Easter.
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West Virginia's alcohol laws are complex, with work-arounds to the state constitution's prohibition of intoxicating liquors
West Virginia's alcohol laws are indeed complex, with a variety of regulations governing the sale and consumption of alcohol in the state. The state's constitution, Article VI, Section 46, prohibits the consumption of "intoxicating liquors" in "saloons or other public places". This has led to some creative workarounds over the years.
One notable example is the redefinition of standard beer as "non-intoxicating beer", which allowed for its sale in bars and restaurants. This change was implemented in 1937 and remains in effect today, with all beer vendors legally selling "non-intoxicating beer".
Another workaround was found in the licensing of private clubs, such as veteran's organisations, fraternal organisations, and golf and country clubs, which were not considered "public places". This allowed for the sale of wine and liquor by the drink to their members and guests.
In 1961, a new law was passed that created a new type of "private club", which, in practice, functions as a public bar or saloon. Under this law, patrons become "members" for a nominal fee, and the club cannot refuse membership to anyone over the age of 21. As a result, public bars and saloons remain technically illegal in the state, but these "private clubs" operate as de facto public drinking establishments.
The sale of alcohol in West Virginia is also subject to time restrictions. Retail sale of beer and wine is prohibited between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. every day, while liquor sales are prohibited between midnight and 6:00 a.m. In addition, liquor stores are not allowed to open on Sundays, though other retailers can sell alcohol during their regular hours on Sundays. Private clubs are required to close by 3:30 a.m. and remain closed until 6:00 a.m., while bars must close by 2:30 a.m. and remain closed until 6:0.a.m.
West Virginia's alcohol laws also vary by county and locality. For example, in 2016, the state allowed a local option election where counties could change the Sunday liquor sales start time from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. Additionally, until August 11, 2021, Calhoun County was dry for wine and hard liquor sales, and the town of Brandonville remains the only dry area in the state.
While West Virginia's alcohol laws may seem complex and full of workarounds, they have evolved over time to provide greater flexibility and promote economic development in the state.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy beer on Sunday in West Virginia.
Beer can be sold between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. every day.
Yes, liquor stores are not allowed to open on Sundays. You also can't buy alcohol in the town of Brandonville, the only dry area in the state.
Liquor stores are closed on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
The minimum drinking age in West Virginia is 21.