Beer Buying In Illinois: Late-Night Restrictions

If you're planning a night out in Illinois, it's important to know the state's alcohol regulations. The time you can buy alcohol varies depending on the day of the week and the type of establishment. Generally, in Illinois, you can buy beer from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday. These hours apply to off-premise retailers like liquor and grocery stores. For on-premise consumption, such as at bars and restaurants, beer can be purchased from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday. Additionally, some establishments may have extended hours with a special license.

Beer buying hours

The beer buying hours in Illinois vary depending on the day of the week and the type of retailer. It's important to note that these hours may also differ in various cities, villages, or counties within the state. Here is a detailed breakdown of the beer buying hours:

Monday to Friday

On weekdays, you can typically buy beer for off-premise consumption from 7 am until 2 am. This applies to retailers such as liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations. For on-premise consumption, such as in bars and restaurants, beer can be purchased from 7 am to 2 am.

Saturday

On Saturdays, the hours for off-premise beer sales are usually extended by an hour, allowing sales from 7 am to 3 am. For on-premise consumption, beer can be purchased in bars and restaurants from 7 am to 3 am.

Sunday

Sunday beer buying hours in Illinois are slightly different. For off-premise consumption, sales are permitted from 8 am to 2 am. On-premise consumption hours are typically from 11 am to 2 am in bars and restaurants.

It's worth noting that some counties or cities may have their own specific regulations that deviate from these standard hours. For example, the city of Chicago has different hours for the sale of alcohol, with closing times extended by two hours if the retailer has an extended hours permit.

Additionally, Illinois has a minimum drinking age of 21, and open containers of alcohol are prohibited in vehicles, except in certain cases such as limousines or ride-share vehicles. The state also imposes a significant liquor tax, which can impact the cost of alcohol for consumers.

On- and off-premise hours

The hours during which beer can be bought for on- and off-premise consumption in Illinois vary depending on the day of the week and the type of establishment.

On-Premise Hours

Bars and restaurants in Illinois can serve beer between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. through 2 a.m. on Sunday. These hours apply to both Chicago and the rest of the state.

Off-Premise Hours

Beer can be purchased for off-premise consumption from liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations. In Chicago, off-premise retailers can sell beer from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. until 3 a.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. until 2 a.m. on Sunday.

In the rest of Illinois, the hours are generally the same, but counties outside Chicago may have different hours within these restrictions. For example, some counties may allow off-premise retailers to sell beer starting at 6 a.m. on weekdays and weekends, while others may require a later start time, such as 9 a.m. on Fridays.

Liquor stores and retailers

In Illinois, liquor stores and retailers can sell alcohol between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., seven days a week. This means that consumers can purchase alcohol most of the day, with only a short break in the early morning.

However, it is important to note that these timings may vary depending on the city or village. For example, in Grand Tower, you can buy alcohol as early as 6:00 a.m. on Fridays, while in Hampshire, you can only purchase alcohol starting from 9:00 a.m. the same day.

Additionally, local ordinances and regulations may further restrict or regulate alcohol sales, so it is always a good idea to check the local laws to ensure compliance.

For instance, in Chicago, businesses with a Consumption or Tavern License that wish to remain open beyond the regular hours may obtain a Late Hour Liquor License if they meet certain criteria. This allows them to stay open until 4:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 5:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Furthermore, bars and restaurants may serve alcohol beyond 2:00 a.m. if they have a special license.

Bars and restaurants

The hours during which bars and restaurants in Illinois can serve alcohol vary depending on the day of the week.

From Monday to Friday, bars and restaurants can serve alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. On Saturday, they can serve alcohol from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., and on Sunday, they can serve from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

It is important to note that these establishments may serve alcohol beyond 2 a.m. if they have obtained a special license, known as a Late Hour Liquor License. This license allows establishments to remain open and continue serving alcohol until 4 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sunday.

The process of obtaining a Late Hour Liquor License involves several steps, including obtaining approval from the local alderman, presenting the case to the local community, and gaining the support of the local community and the Chicago City Council. Establishments must also pay the required fees and adhere to specific rules, such as maintaining security measures and controlling noise levels.

Additionally, the legal drinking age in Illinois is 21, and alcohol sales are generally allowed from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. the following day. However, individual municipalities may impose further restrictions, and Illinois prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays before 11 a.m.

Special licences and exceptions

The sale of alcohol in Illinois is regulated by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, which is responsible for licensing, tax collection, auditing, fee collection, and enforcing the state's laws and regulations. The commission has four divisions: Licensing, Legal, Investigations, and Education & Training.

While the state does not set any particular hours when alcohol sales are illegal, establishments must adhere to the timings set for on-premise and off-premise liquor licenses. On-premise consumption refers to drinking at bars and restaurants, while off-premise consumption refers to purchasing alcohol from retailers such as liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations.

Bars and restaurants in Illinois can generally serve beer from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday. These timings may vary depending on the city or village, and some bars may choose to close earlier. Additionally, bars can extend their closing time by two hours if they obtain an extended hours permit.

Retailers, including liquor stores, grocery stores, and gas stations, typically sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday. Again, these timings may differ based on location, and retailers should refer to local alcohol control regulations.

Special Licenses and Exceptions:

Illinois offers several types of licenses for manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of alcohol. Here are some special licenses and exceptions to the standard liquor laws in Illinois:

• Extended Hours Permit: Bars and on-premise retailers can obtain an extended hours permit, allowing them to remain open for an additional two hours beyond the standard closing times.
• Specialty Retailer License: This license is designed for brewpubs, winemakers that sell or serve, and caterers. The fee for this license is $1,500 for brewpubs and $500 for winemakers and caterers.
• Distiller's License: A distiller's license permits the licensee to sell and deliver alcoholic liquor to other distillers, rectifiers, importing distributors, distributors, and non-beverage users. However, they cannot sell to other licensees.
• Rectifier's License: A rectifier is a person or business that rectifies, ferments, brews, makes, mixes, or processes alcoholic liquor, typically by blending or bottling.
• Craft Distiller Licenses: Illinois offers two types of craft distiller licenses, Class 1 and Class 2, with different production limits, self-distribution eligibility, and restrictions on holding certain additional licenses.
• Non-Resident Dealer's License: This license allows the licensee to ship and warehouse alcoholic liquor in Illinois from outside the state and sell it to Illinois-licensed foreign importers and importing distributors.
• Winery Shipper's License: While suppliers generally cannot ship distilled spirits or malt beverages directly to Illinois residents, those holding a Winery Shipper's License may ship wine to eligible industry members.
• Third-Party Delivery: Alcohol deliveries are legal in Illinois, and third-party delivery companies can deliver beer, wine, and cocktails to consumers who are at least 21 years old.
• Growlers and Crowlers: Illinois allows bars, restaurants, and breweries to fill growlers (unsealed refillable beer jugs) for customers to drink at home. Growlers and crowlers can hold up to 128 ounces of beer.
• Local Control: While Illinois does not allow localities to change their wet or dry status, it grants local control over the classification and number of licenses issued for the sale of alcoholic drinks. This allows for variations in the timings and regulations across different cities and villages within the state.

Frequently asked questions