Minnesota's Beer Buying Cut-Off Time: What You Need Know

Minnesota has a myriad of laws surrounding alcohol sales, and it can be confusing to keep track of the latest rules and regulations. The state has strict laws regarding the sale of beer, wine, and liquor, with varying rules for bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations. So, how late can you buy beer in Minnesota?

Characteristics	Values
Days beer can be bought	Monday to Saturday
Hours beer can be bought	8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Days beer cannot be bought	Sundays, Thanksgiving, after 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas Day
Hours beer cannot be bought	Midnight to 8 a.m. Monday to Saturday, 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday
Places beer can be bought	Bars, restaurants, breweries, taprooms, liquor stores, grocery stores, gas stations
Types of beer that can be bought	Beer with less than 3.2% ABV can be bought at grocery stores and gas stations. Beer with more than 3.2% ABV can be bought at liquor stores, bars, restaurants, breweries and taprooms.
Age requirement to buy beer	21 and older
Age requirement to serve beer	18 and over

Beer in grocery stores

The sale of beer in grocery stores is also limited by specific hours. Beer can be sold from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, beer sales are prohibited unless the store has obtained a Sunday sales permit, in which case, sales are allowed during the same hours as the other days.

It is important to note that the laws regarding alcohol sales in Minnesota can vary by county, and some counties may have stricter regulations. Additionally, some grocery stores have built stand-alone liquor stores with separate entrances to sell a wider range of alcoholic beverages.

When purchasing beer in Minnesota, it is essential to be mindful of the state's alcohol laws, including the legal drinking age of 21, open container laws, and blood-alcohol content (BAC) limits for driving.

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Sunday sales

Minnesota has a myriad of laws surrounding alcohol sales, and Sunday sales are no exception.

In Minnesota, Sunday sales times for alcohol are more restricted than on weekdays. On Sundays, beer can be purchased from 8 am to 2 am in bars and restaurants, but only if the establishment has a Sunday sales permit. Liquor stores are only allowed to sell beer from 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays, and they must also have a Sunday sales permit.

Other Restrictions

It's important to note that Minnesota has other restrictions on alcohol sales besides those specific to Sundays. For example, off-premise sales are banned on Thanksgiving and after 8 pm on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas Day. Additionally, Minnesota is the only state that restricts the sale of beer in grocery stores and gas stations to 3.2% ABV or less.

Changes in Sunday Sales Laws

Minnesota's Sunday sales laws have evolved over time. In the past, some counties observed more restrictive laws, with liquor stores closing at 8 pm during the week and not opening at all on Sundays. However, these laws have changed, and now liquor stores can be open until 9 pm or 10 pm during the week and are permitted to operate on Sundays with the appropriate license.

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On-premise sales

Minnesota has a variety of laws regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol, including beer. On-premise sales of beer are allowed seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. in bars, restaurants, breweries, and taprooms. However, on Sundays, only establishments with a Sunday sales permit are allowed to sell alcohol. This permit allows them to sell beer from 8 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday.

The sale of beer for on-premise consumption is prohibited on Thanksgiving, after 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and all day on Christmas Day. Additionally, some counties in Minnesota have stricter alcohol sales laws than others. For example, in Olmsted County, liquor stores were previously required to close by 8 p.m. during the week, but the law was changed to allow them to stay open until 9 p.m.

It is important to note that Minnesota has a "per se intoxicated" rule, which means that anyone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over 0.08% can be convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). The state also has strict open container laws, prohibiting open containers of alcohol in vehicles.

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Off-premise sales

Minnesota has a myriad of laws surrounding alcohol sales, and these can vary by county. Here is a rundown of the laws as they pertain to off-premise alcohol sales:

In Minnesota, off-premise alcohol sales are allowed from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, off-premise sales are permitted from 11 am to 6 pm. No off-premise sales are allowed on Thanksgiving, after 8 pm on Christmas Eve, or on Christmas Day. These hours apply to liquor stores, which are the only places to buy off-premise alcohol above 3.2% ABV.

Some retailers, such as grocery stores and gas stations, are restricted to selling beer with an ABV of 3.2% or lower. These retailers can sell beer from 8 am to 10 pm every day except Sundays, unless they have a Sunday sales permit. With a permit, they can sell beer during the same hours as other days.

It is important to note that some counties have different laws regarding off-premise sales. For example, in Olmsted County, liquor stores were previously required to close at 8 pm during the week, but the law was changed to allow them to stay open until 9 pm.

Additionally, some towns have a monopoly on the sales of wine and spirits, with only municipal-controlled stores allowed to sell these types of alcohol. In these areas, beer, wine, and spirits are only available for off-premise consumption from municipal liquor stores during the hours specified above.

On-Premise Sales

On-premise alcohol sales are allowed seven days a week from 8 am to 2 am in bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels, breweries, and taprooms. On Sundays, only establishments with a Sunday sales permit are allowed to sell alcohol on-premise.

Other Important Alcohol Laws in Minnesota

The legal drinking age in Minnesota is 21, and individuals must be 18 or older to sell or serve alcohol.
Open containers of alcohol are not allowed in vehicles and must be transported in the trunk.
The blood-alcohol content (BAC) limit while driving is 0.08%.
Minnesota has "zero tolerance laws" for underage drinking and driving, with penalties for any detectable BAC in drivers under the legal drinking age.
Minnesota allows minors to drink alcohol with their parents or legal guardians if the parents allow it, are aware of it, and it occurs in a private residence.

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Open containers

Minnesota has strict laws regarding open containers of alcohol. It is illegal to possess an open container of alcohol while driving or walking in Minnesota. This includes all types of alcoholic beverages, including beer with an ABV of 3.2% or lower. All open bottles of alcohol must be transported in the trunk of a vehicle.

In addition to these laws, Minnesota also has "zero-tolerance laws" for underage drinking and driving. Young drivers may not test at any BAC level above 0.0% without incurring DUI penalties. If a driver is found to have a BAC of 0.20% or more, which is twice the legal limit of 0.08%, they will be subject to enhanced penalties, including the possible installation of an ignition interlock device at their own expense.

Minnesota's drinking laws are designed to promote responsible alcohol consumption and to keep the public safe. These laws are important to be aware of, especially when travelling or consuming alcohol in the state.