Chicago's Early Beer Buying: Legal Age And Availability

Chicago's liquor laws have changed over the years, with the latest updates in 2021. The city's liquor laws were once among the most liberal in the country, allowing stores to sell liquor until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. However, during the pandemic, a 9 p.m. liquor store curfew was imposed, which was later pushed to 11 p.m. Now, the legal opening time for liquor establishments is 7 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. on Sundays, with a closing hour of 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 3 a.m. on Sundays. Restaurants or tavern licensees with a retail food license can begin selling liquor at 9 a.m. on Sundays, and establishments with a Late Hour Liquor License can remain open until 4 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sundays.

Alcohol sales in Chicago are banned after midnight

The ban on liquor sales after midnight applies only to packaged goods sold at liquor stores. Bars, clubs, and restaurants are still able to serve alcohol to patrons late into the evening. The legal opening time for liquor establishments is 7 am, Monday through Saturday, and 11 am on Sundays. Restaurants or tavern licensees with a retail food license can begin selling liquor at 9 am on Sundays.

The new curfew is part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's "Chi Biz Strong" ordinance, which is meant to help businesses recover from COVID-19 losses. The ordinance also includes grant-funded financial and debt relief for businesses, a cap on the fees that third-party delivery services can charge restaurants, and increased wage theft protections.

Some Chicago liquor store owners worry about losing business to nearby suburbs, where alcohol sales are allowed past midnight. However, bar owners believe the ordinance could give them more business, as patrons won't have the option to buy alcohol at stores late at night and consume it at home.

Chicago's midnight cutoff for alcohol sales at liquor stores now matches cities like New York and Washington, D.C. Other cities, like LA, San Francisco, and Seattle, allow liquor stores to sell until 2 am, while Boston has a cutoff time of 11 pm.

The legal opening time for liquor establishments is 7 am Monday to Saturday, and 9/11 am on Sunday

Chicago has strict rules about when and where you can buy alcohol. The legal opening time for liquor establishments is 7 am, Monday to Saturday, and 11 am on Sunday. However, restaurants (or tavern licensees with a retail food license) can begin selling liquor at 9 am on Sundays.

These timings are important to know if you're planning a day of drinking. It's worth noting that these rules only apply to liquor stores and not to bars and restaurants, which can serve alcohol late into the evening. So, if you're looking to grab a beer or two, you'll need to plan according to these timings.

Chicago's liquor laws have evolved over time. In the past, the city's liquor laws were among the most liberal in the country, allowing liquor stores to sell until 2 am or 3 am. However, the city has recently imposed stricter regulations, with a midnight cutoff for liquor sales at liquor stores. This change was implemented as a compromise to address quality-of-life issues and reduce loitering outside stores.

It's important to be aware of these legal opening times for liquor establishments in Chicago, especially if you're planning a day that involves drinking. While the hours provide ample opportunity to purchase liquor, they also highlight the city's focus on addressing the negative impacts of alcohol sales on the community.

Alcohol can be sold from 8 am on Sundays in grocery stores

Chicago has a thriving craft beer scene, innovative distilleries, and award-winning wineries. It is one of the few states that allow the sale of alcohol, including spirits, in grocery stores. This makes liquor more widely available than in many other states.

The legal opening time for liquor establishments in Chicago is 7 am, Monday to Saturday, and 11 am on Sundays. However, restaurants or tavern licensees with a retail food license can begin selling liquor at 9 am on Sundays. Grocery stores are allowed to sell alcohol from 8 am on Sundays, while liquor stores must wait until 11 am.

The city has also implemented a midnight cutoff for alcohol sales at liquor stores, with bars and restaurants exempt from this rule. This was introduced as a measure to curb crime and prevent loitering outside stores. Previously, liquor stores in Chicago were allowed to sell alcohol until 2 am or 3 am. The new ordinance is part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot's "Chi Biz Strong" initiative to help businesses recover from COVID-19 losses.

Chicago's liquor laws are now more in line with other major cities like New York and Washington, D.C., which also have a midnight cutoff for liquor sales.

Liquor stores must wait until 11 am to sell alcohol on Sundays

Chicago has a thriving craft beer scene, innovative distilleries, and award-winning wineries. The city's local craft beer and spirits showcase Midwestern ingenuity with artisanal techniques, utilising regionally-sourced grains and ingredients.

The legal opening time for liquor establishments in Chicago is 7 am, Monday to Saturday, and 11 am on Sundays. This means that liquor stores must wait until 11 am to sell alcohol on Sundays, although restaurants or tavern licensees with a retail food license can begin selling liquor at 9 am.

The city has a range of laws and regulations surrounding alcohol sales, including a ban on liquor sales after midnight, which was implemented in 2021. This ban only applies to packaged goods, and bars and restaurants are still able to serve alcohol late into the evening. The closing hour under a standard consumption or tavern liquor license is 2 am, Monday to Saturday, and 3 am on Sundays.

Chicago's alcohol laws are designed to balance the needs of businesses and consumers while also addressing potential issues related to late-night liquor sales, such as loitering and public nuisance.

Bars and clubs are exempt from the midnight alcohol sales ban

In Chicago, the standard closing hour for businesses with a Consumption or Tavern Liquor License is 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and 3 a.m. on Sunday. However, establishments with a Late Hour Liquor License are allowed to remain open until 4 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sunday.

In May 2024, the town of Cicero, Illinois, which is located near Chicago, passed a new ordinance banning the sale of alcohol after midnight. This ordinance applies to all liquor sales, including liquor stores, retailers, restaurants, and bars. Previously, bars and restaurants in Cicero were allowed to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., depending on the day of the week.

It's important to note that this new ordinance in Cicero does not apply to the city of Chicago. Chicago's liquor laws allow for alcohol sales until the standard closing times mentioned earlier. Bars and clubs in Chicago are exempt from the midnight alcohol sales ban that is in place in Cicero. They can continue to operate and sell alcohol until the standard closing times, and some establishments with a Late Hour Liquor License can even stay open later.

The Cicero ordinance was implemented due to concerns about violence, fights, and loud noises caused by intoxicated patrons, particularly in residential areas. The town president, Larry Dominick, stated that drinking establishments were not doing enough to prevent these issues, which often occurred after midnight. However, not everyone agreed with the ordinance, and some business owners expressed concerns about potential losses in revenue.

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