Buying Beer In Mississippi: Understanding The Legal Age

Mississippi has some of the most convoluted alcohol laws in the country. The state has a government alcohol monopoly, and its laws are heavily influenced by religion. While Mississippi is not a dry state, it lets counties vote to become dry. Of its 82 counties, 23 are fully dry, and several others are partially dry.

In Mississippi, you must be 21 to buy alcohol. However, people aged 18-21 can drink beer and light wine with parental supervision. Interestingly, Mississippi does not have an open container law, meaning it is legal to drink while driving, as long as your BAC remains under 0.08%.

The hours during which alcohol can be sold vary across the state and are dependent on the type of retailer and the type of alcohol. Beer and light wine can be sold at grocery and convenience stores 24/7, while wine and spirits can only be purchased at liquor stores, which are closed on Sundays and Christmas Day. On-premise alcohol sales are allowed from 7 am to midnight, and off-premise sales are legal between 10 am and 10 pm.

The minimum drinking age in Mississippi is 21

Mississippi has some of the most complicated alcohol laws in the country. While it is not a dry state, many of its counties are. In Mississippi, beer is defined as a malt-based beverage with an alcohol content of no more than 8% by weight. Beer with a higher alcohol content is illegal in the state. Wine-based products with an alcohol content of less than 5% are regulated like beer and are known as light wine products. Spirits-based products with an alcohol content of 6% or less are also regulated in the same way as beer.

The hours during which alcohol can be sold vary across the state and are dependent on the type of retailer and the county. Beer can be sold for off-premise consumption 24/7, but on-premise beer sales are limited to 7 a.m. until midnight. Off-premise alcohol sales are legal between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., while on-premise sales are allowed from 10 a.m. until midnight. Alcohol sales at liquor stores are not permitted on Sundays. However, these hours can be changed by local governments and are different across Mississippi.

Minors between 18 and 20 can drink beer with parental permission

In Mississippi, the legal drinking age for beer and alcohol is 21. However, the state does allow a person between the ages of 18 and 20 to consume beer with the permission and in the presence of their parent or legal guardian. This exception is only for beer and does not include hard liquor or wine products that contain more than 5% alcohol by weight.

This exception is one of the peculiarities of Mississippi's alcohol laws, which are considered some of the most convoluted in the country. While Mississippi is not a dry state, it does allow its counties to vote on whether they are wet or dry. Many of the state's alcohol laws are holdovers from the time period of 1908 to 1966, when Mississippi was a dry state.

The Mississippi Department of Revenue notes that minors between 18 and 20 can drink beer with parental permission, but only in the presence of their parent or legal guardian. Additionally, those under 21 who are serving in the U.S. military may possess and consume beer on military property where it is allowed.

It is important to note that minors under 21 are prohibited from purchasing alcoholic beverages, and providing false identification to obtain alcohol is a criminal offense. The laws in Mississippi surrounding alcohol consumption and purchase are detailed and specific, and it is important to abide by them to avoid legal consequences.

Beer and light wine are sold at grocery and convenience stores

In Mississippi, beer is defined as a malt-based beverage with an alcohol content of no more than 8% by weight. Beer with an alcohol content greater than 8% is not legal in the state. Light wine products, typically marketed as wine coolers, are wine-based products with an alcohol content of less than 5% by weight. These are regulated in the same way as beer.

Mississippi has some of the most complicated alcohol laws in the country, and while it is not a dry state, many of its counties are. These dry counties prohibit the sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages.

Wine and spirits are sold at liquor stores

To buy beer in Mississippi, you must be 21 years of age or older. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. If a person is aged between 18 and 21, they are permitted to consume beer in the presence of their parent or legal guardian, who must give their consent. This exception does not include wine or hard liquor. Additionally, individuals aged 18 or above who are serving in the U.S. military may possess and consume beer on military property where it is allowed.

Mississippi has some of the most complex alcohol laws in the country. The state has a government monopoly on the sale of liquor, and it controls the manufacturing, supplying, buying, and selling of alcoholic beverages. The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulates the sale of wine and spirits, which are sold at liquor stores. These stores can only sell full-strength wine and spirits, and they are typically closed on Sundays and Christmas Day.

The hours for purchasing alcohol in Mississippi vary and are subject to change by local governments. Liquor stores are generally open from 10 am to 10 pm, Monday through Saturday. On-premise alcohol sales, such as at bars and restaurants, are allowed from 7 am to midnight, while off-premise sales at grocery and convenience stores are permitted 24/7. However, these hours may differ across the state, and some areas allow all alcohol sales 24/7.

Alcohol sales are restricted on Sundays

Mississippi has some of the most complicated alcohol laws in the United States. Alcohol sales are restricted on Sundays, with package stores prohibited from selling alcohol on Sundays and Christmas Day. Package stores are only allowed to open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

On-premises permittees, such as bars and restaurants, are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages from 10:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday. However, these hours can be extended until 1:00 a.m. on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day if it falls on a Sunday. On-premises sales of beer are allowed from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, but these hours can be further restricted by local governments.

While Mississippi is not a dry state, it does allow its counties to vote on whether they are wet or dry. There are currently 23 fully dry counties in Mississippi, and several others that are partially dry. These dry counties prohibit the sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages within their borders.

The state's alcohol laws also vary depending on the type of retailer and the type of alcohol being sold. Beer and light wine (with less than 10% ABV) can be sold off-premises 24/7 at grocery and convenience stores, gas stations, and other retailers. However, wine and distilled spirits with more than 5% ABV can only be purchased at liquor stores during their operating hours and are not available for purchase on Sundays.

Additionally, Mississippi has specific laws regarding alcohol delivery and online sales. Alcohol delivery is legal, but it is restricted to the legal sale hours of the retailer, and deliveries cannot be made to dry counties. Online sales of alcohol are not allowed, and it is illegal to bring or ship wine into the state from out-of-state sources.

Frequently asked questions