Exploring Georgia's Unique Beer Buying Experience And Hours

Beer and wine can be purchased at grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores in Georgia, but the specific hours and days of sale vary by county. While some counties allow 24-hour sales, others restrict sales on certain days, such as Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day. Generally, in most counties, beer can be purchased for off-premises consumption from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. However, it's important to check the specific regulations in your county, as the laws can vary significantly.

Where you can buy beer in Georgia

In Georgia, beer can be purchased from a variety of retailers, including bars and restaurants, package and liquor stores, breweries and taprooms, and gas stations. The specific rules and regulations for each type of retailer vary, and there are also county-specific regulations that may further impact where and when you can buy beer.

Bars and restaurants in Georgia that serve alcohol are typically allowed to do so from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Some counties may have earlier closing times for bars, and restaurants may close earlier than the latest time they are permitted to serve alcohol. Additionally, bars and restaurants can sell packaged and draught beer, wine, and spirits by the drink. Since early 2021, Georgia restaurants have also been permitted to sell alcohol with to-go meals.

Gas stations in Georgia can sell beer between 8 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. Gas stations are not covered by the "brunch bill," which allows bars and restaurants to serve alcohol as early as 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Grocery stores in Georgia may sell beer from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. It is important to note that the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores is restricted to these hours, even if the store remains open outside of this timeframe.

Liquor stores in Georgia have similar hours to grocery stores, selling alcohol from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. However, it is important to note that liquor stores may be prohibited from selling distilled spirits or may not be allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays in some counties.

Breweries and taprooms in Georgia typically operate within the same hours as liquor stores, selling alcohol from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. However, most breweries and taprooms cannot sell alcohol for off-premise consumption.

While the above outlines the general rules for purchasing beer in Georgia, it is important to remember that there are dry counties in the state that may have additional restrictions on the type of alcohol that can be sold and the times and places it can be purchased. Additionally, the rules and regulations regarding alcohol sales can vary from county to county, so it is always a good idea to check the local laws in your specific area.

When you can buy beer in Georgia

In Georgia, beer can be purchased at different times depending on the day of the week and the location.

Monday to Saturday

On weekdays and Saturdays, beer can be purchased for off-premises consumption between 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. This applies to gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms.

Sunday

On Sundays, beer can be purchased from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the same locations. However, some counties in Georgia may prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sundays altogether. Additionally, some cities like Atlanta have passed a "Brunch Bill", allowing bars and restaurants to serve alcohol as early as 11 a.m. on Sundays.

On-Premise Consumption

On-premise consumption regulations vary by county, but generally, bars and restaurants can sell alcohol from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays.

It's important to note that Georgia has dry counties, where the sale of alcohol is restricted or prohibited. These dry counties can impact the availability of beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Beer delivery in Georgia

Beer delivery is permitted in Georgia, but only by retailers with a corresponding license. This means that supermarkets, liquor stores, and specialist beer shops can deliver beer, but breweries are notably excluded from this law. This has been a source of contention in the industry, with breweries and distilleries feeling unfairly treated.

Who Can Deliver Beer?

Third-party delivery services like Drizly.com can deliver beer, alongside employees of licensed retailers. However, there are strict rules for delivery drivers. They must be over 21, have a valid Georgia driver's license, and undergo a criminal background check.

Beer can be delivered during the same hours as beer sales, which are from 8 am to 11:45 pm Monday to Saturday, and 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm on Sundays. These hours are set by state law, but individual counties can impose further restrictions.

Where Can Beer Be Delivered?

Beer can be delivered to a person's home, but there are some exceptions. Beer cannot be delivered to schools, prisons, reformatories, correctional facilities, locker mailboxes, package shipping locations, storage facilities, or addiction/substance abuse facilities.

Who Can Receive a Beer Delivery?

Beer can only be delivered to someone who is 21 or over, with valid ID, and not noticeably intoxicated. The recipient must also sign for the delivery and is allowed to inspect the order.

Dry Counties:

It is important to note that there are some "dry counties" in Georgia, where retail liquor sales are illegal. These include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. Beer delivery will not be possible in these counties.

Age restrictions for buying beer in Georgia

The minimum drinking age in Georgia is 21. It is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under this age and doing so can result in a fine of up to $300 and/or up to six months in jail.

There is an exception to this law for minors drinking alcohol in the presence of their parents or guardians, but only in the guardian's home. There are also exceptions for minors with a prescription from a physician and for religious ceremonies.

In Georgia, you can buy beer for off-premises consumption between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, beer may be sold from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. These times may vary depending on the county, as local jurisdictions are allowed to set more restrictive rules. For example, in Muscogee County, you can buy beer any time except from 12 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sundays, and in Coweta County, you can buy alcohol from 12:30 p.m. onwards on Sundays.

In the city of Atlanta, you can buy beer, wine, and spirits from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

Growler and unsealed beer container laws in Georgia

In Georgia, you can buy growlers and other unsealed beer containers between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Most counties allow Sunday alcohol sales from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., but some bars and restaurants can start selling at 11 a.m.

A growler is a refillable container or vessel into which beverages are dispensed for transport for off-premise consumption. Growlers are typically glass or metal containers and hold up to 64 ounces of liquid. Items dispensed and sold in this manner include beer, wine, hard cider, kombucha, and soda.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture's Retail Food Sales 40-7-1-.10 (16) requires a "contamination-free" transfer process for beverages. Therefore, to ensure no cross-contamination, growlers should be refilled without any contact between the tap and the vessel. However, most growlers are filled via a section of clear tubing connected to the tap called a growler fill tube. This allows the beer to be filled from the bottom up to lessen the foam and expedite the filling process. Since the use of fill tubes can allow for contaminants from one vessel to be transferred to the next, they must be changed or cleaned between each use. The Georgia Department of Agriculture's General Rules requires that equipment (fill tubes) be washed, rinsed, and sanitized by means of either a mechanical or manual ware washing process. In addition, the fill tubes must be completely air-dried before the next use.

The state of Georgia does not prohibit alcohol sales on any other days. However, it allows counties to prohibit sales on days such as Christmas Day.

Frequently asked questions