Arabella Franco
The time at which you can no longer buy beer varies depending on where you are in the world. In the United States, the legal hours for selling alcohol are dictated by the type of premises/business, the type of alcohol, and the day of the week. In Texas, for example, on-premises license holders (e.g. bars and restaurants) can sell alcohol from 7 am to midnight Monday to Friday, 7 am to 1 am on Saturday, and from noon to midnight on Sunday. In Mississippi, beer can only be purchased between 10 am and 10 pm, Monday to Saturday, and alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays and Christmas Day. In California, the sale of alcohol is prohibited between 2 am and 6 am, and in Florida, this period runs from 1 am to 7 am.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | 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, and Washington D.C. |
| Day of the Week | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday |
| Time | 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m., 12:00 a.m., 1:00 a.m., 1:30 a.m., 2:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m., and 5:00 a.m. |
| Day | Thanksgiving, Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Easter, Election Day, and New Year's |
| Holiday | Christmas, New Year's, and Thanksgiving |
| Business Type | On-premises (bars and restaurants) and Off-premises (grocery and liquor stores) |
| Alcohol Type | Beer, Wine, Liquor, Spirits, and Mixed Beverages |
| Alcohol Content | 3.2% ABV, 5.0% ABV, 6% ABV, 6.4% ABV, 7.5% ABV, 8% ABV, 10% ABV, 11% ABV, 12% ABV, 14% ABV, 14.9% ABV, 15% ABV, 15.5% ABV, 16% ABV, 17% ABV, 20% ABV, 40% ABV, and 76.5% ABV |
| Other | Dry Counties, Blue Laws, Special Permits, and Parental Supervision |
What You'll Learn
Beer sales restrictions vary across US states
In Texas, for example, the sale of alcohol is regulated by a combination of state laws and local county rules. Statewide, alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Liquor stores are closed on Sundays, and bars and restaurants can only serve alcohol from 10 am to noon on Sundays if it is accompanied by food. However, beer can be purchased from 10 am to midnight on Sundays at supermarkets or grocery stores. Texas also has four completely dry counties where no alcohol is sold.
In Alabama, beer and wine sales are not controlled by the state, but spirits are. On-premise and off-premise liquor sales are limited to 2 am on Sundays. Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets, but spirits cannot. There is a 6% ABV cap on beer sales, and bottles cannot exceed 16 ounces. Alabama also has several dry counties where alcohol sales are prohibited, but possession and consumption remain legal.
Alaska, on the other hand, has a simpler system, with no alcohol sales controlled by the state. On-premise and off-premise sales are allowed from 8 am to 5 am every day, and liquor sales are not permitted in grocery stores.
Arizona also does not control alcohol sales at the state level, and sales are permitted from 6 am to 2 am every day. Drive-through liquor stores are legal in Arizona.
Arkansas has a more complicated system, with on-premise sales varying by the type of establishment. Off-premise sales are allowed from 7 am to 1 am Monday through Friday but only until midnight on Saturdays. Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets, but only in-state-produced wine is permitted, and spirits are not. Arkansas has many dry counties, but private clubs are exempt from these restrictions.
California has lenient liquor laws, with sales permitted from 6 am to 2 am every day. Wine, beer, and spirits can be sold in grocery stores, but counties can impose additional restrictions. The sale of alcohol above 76.5% ABV is illegal in California.
These examples demonstrate the variation in beer sales restrictions across US states, with differences in the days and hours that beer can be purchased, the types of establishments that can sell beer, and the ABV limits for beer sales. It is important for consumers and businesses to be aware of the specific regulations in their state and local area to ensure compliance with the law.
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On-premises sales refer to drinks consumed at bars and restaurants
On-premises sales refer to the purchase of drinks to be consumed at bars and restaurants. In Texas, bars and restaurants can sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, they can sell from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday morning, and from noon to midnight on Sundays. If the bar or restaurant is in a city or county that permits late hours, they can sell alcohol until 2 a.m. any night of the week.
In Mississippi, on-premises sales of beer are allowed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays and Christmas Day.
In California, on-premises sales are allowed from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day of the year. However, cities and counties can set additional restrictions.
In Arizona, on-premises sales are permitted from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day of the year.
In Alabama, on-premises sales are allowed until 2 a.m. However, alcohol sales are prohibited in several counties known as dry counties.
It's important to note that laws regarding alcohol sales vary across the United States, and even within a state, there can be local exceptions and additional restrictions.
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Off-premises sales refer to drinks bought from a store
The ability to buy beer and other alcoholic beverages after a certain time varies depending on the state and local laws. In the United States, the federal government, states, and local jurisdictions each have a say in how alcohol is bought and consumed.
Minimum Age Requirements
It is illegal for persons under the age of 21 to purchase, consume, or possess alcoholic beverages in the United States. This is governed by the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which was enacted in 1984 and took effect in most states by 1988. Prior to this law, the minimum drinking age varied by state, typically ranging from 18 to 21.
Business Hours and Days
Off-premises sales hours are often dictated by the type of business, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, or liquor stores. Some states and local jurisdictions may have additional restrictions on the days and hours that these businesses can sell alcohol. For example, in Alabama, alcohol sales are prohibited in certain counties known as "dry counties."
Alcohol Type and Content
The sale of alcohol may also be restricted based on the type of alcohol, such as liquor, wine, or beer, or the alcohol content, typically measured as alcohol by volume (ABV). For instance, California allows the sale of alcohol up to 60% ABV in stores, while anything above that ABV is sold in drugstores or pharmacies.
Licensing Requirements
In the United States, liquor licenses and permits are issued by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). These permits are awarded to breweries, distributors, and retailers. The TTB also approves beer labeling and advertising, requiring warning statements such as "This Product Contains Alcohol" and "Drink Responsibly."
To summarize, the laws regarding off-premises sales of alcoholic beverages vary by state and local jurisdiction. These laws may include restrictions on the minimum age to purchase, the type of business selling alcohol, the days and hours of sale, the type and content of alcohol, and the required licensing. It is important to refer to the specific laws in your state and local area to ensure compliance.
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Alcohol sales are often restricted on certain days
In addition to day-based restrictions, alcohol sales may also be restricted based on the time of day, the type of alcohol, and the business or premises type. These restrictions are intended to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and related harms but have been the subject of ongoing debate and research.
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Alcohol sales are also restricted on certain holidays
Alcohol sales are restricted on certain holidays in the United States, with laws varying from state to state. Here are some examples:
Alabama
Alabama prohibits the sale of alcohol on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Additionally, some counties in Alabama prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sundays between midnight and noon.
Connecticut
Connecticut does not have statewide Sunday prohibitions, but local ordinances can restrict on-premises alcohol sales on Sundays. Alcohol sales are also restricted on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Delaware
Alcohol sales in Delaware are restricted on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
District of Columbia
On the day before a federal or district holiday, on-premises retailers in the District of Columbia can sell and serve alcohol from 8 am to 3 am. On New Year's Eve, they can sell and serve until 4 am on January 1.
Florida
Florida prohibits the sale of alcohol from 1 am to 7 am, but counties can override this restriction. For example, Miami-Dade County allows liquor stores to operate 24/7.
Georgia
Georgia has a statewide rule prohibiting off-premises alcohol sales on Sundays from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm. Local jurisdictions must opt-in to allow Sunday afternoon sales.
Idaho
Idaho prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Counties and cities can make exceptions for days other than Christmas Day.
Kansas
Kansas prohibits off-premises alcohol sales on Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.
Louisiana
Louisiana has 24-hour bars in some areas, such as New Orleans and Lake Charles. However, bars within the city limits of Lake Charles must close on Sundays. Alcohol sales are prohibited on Christmas Day.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts restricts alcohol sales on Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (and the following day if Christmas falls on a Sunday). Alcohol sales are allowed for an extra half-hour before a holiday.
Mississippi
Mississippi restricts alcohol sales on Sundays and Christmas Day.
Montana
Montana restricts alcohol sales from 2 am to 8 am. There are some local ordinances that further restrict sales.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire prohibits the sale of liquor and wine on Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve after 6 pm.
North Carolina
North Carolina restricts alcohol sales on Thanksgiving (after 2 am) and Christmas Eve (after 6 pm).
Ohio
Ohio prohibits the sale of alcohol on Thanksgiving Day.
Texas
Texas prohibits the sale of alcohol in liquor stores on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Virginia
Virginia allows an extra hour of alcohol sales on New Year's Eve.
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Frequently asked questions
Beer can be bought off-premise from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
In Arizona, beer can be bought between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. every day of the year.
In California, beer can be bought on- or off-premises from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day of the year.
In New York, beer can be bought off-premise from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
