Alabama's Sunday Beer Buying Hours: When Can You Buy?

Alabama has strict laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol, and these vary across the state. While some counties and cities have approved Sunday liquor sales, others maintain a strict taboo. State-run liquor stores are closed on Sundays, and alcohol cannot be sold after 2 a.m. on Sundays except where authorised by a separate law. Grocery and liquor stores are permitted to sell alcohol from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sundays, but the specific hours vary by county and city. In Montgomery, alcohol can be purchased at any time on Sunday except between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. In Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Auburn, Sunday on-site consumption sales are permitted from 10 a.m.

Alabama's alcohol laws

Alabama has strict laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol. While the state is not dry, it has several dry counties, and the laws surrounding alcohol vary across the state.

Alcohol Sales Laws in Alabama

In Alabama, the sale of alcohol is controlled by the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board. The state has no specified hours of sale, except that alcohol cannot be sold after 2 a.m. on Sundays and before 9 a.m. on Mondays. Each county and city can set its own sales hours, and Sunday sales laws vary across Alabama. Some counties and cities allow Sunday sales, while others do not. For example, in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Auburn, Sunday on-site consumption sales are allowed from 10 a.m. In Tuscaloosa, Sunday sales are allowed from noon.

Where You Can Buy Alcohol in Alabama

Beer and wine can be purchased in many retailers, including grocery stores, package stores, and gas stations. However, the state controls the sale of liquor and wine above 14% ABV, which can only be purchased from state-run liquor stores or private liquor stores that have first purchased the products from the state.

Age Restrictions

In Alabama, you must be at least 19 years old to serve alcohol and at least 21 years old to be a bartender. To sell distilled spirits in a store, you must be at least 21 years old, but there is no minimum age to sell wine or beer for off-site consumption.

Open Container Laws

Alabama has strict open container laws. It is illegal to have an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. Open containers must be kept in the trunk or otherwise out of easy reach.

DUI Laws

Alabama has strict DUI laws, and the penalties for a DUI conviction can include jail time, fines, and license suspension. The legal limit for drivers 21 and older is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, while the limit for drivers under 21 is 0.02%.

Where to buy beer in Alabama

The sale of alcohol in Alabama is controlled by the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board. While Alabama is not a dry state, it has strict laws related to the manufacturing, distribution, sale, and consumption of alcohol.

You can buy beer in Alabama at:

• Bars and restaurants
• Package and liquor stores
• Breweries and taprooms
• Grocery stores
• Gas stations

Alabama's alcohol laws

Each county and city in Alabama can set its own sales hours for alcohol. Beer and weak wine can be sold in many retailers, but the state controls the sale of liquor and full-strength wine.

In Montgomery, Alabama, you can buy beer for off-premise consumption 24/7. However, you can only buy beer for on-premise consumption 24 hours a day, except for Sunday. State-run liquor stores are closed on Sundays and only open from 9 am to 9 pm Monday to Saturday.

In Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Auburn, Sunday sales are allowed starting at 10 am. In Tuscaloosa, Sunday sales are permitted from noon. Alcohol sales are also permitted on Sundays in Montgomery, Hoover, and Shelby County.

Alcohol restrictions

Alabama has a government monopoly on the sale of wine with an alcohol content of 14% or higher and all distilled spirits. Grocery and convenience stores may only sell wine with an alcohol content below 14% and beer below 6% alcohol.

It is illegal to serve alcoholic beverages after 2 am in Alabama. Alcohol cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 21, and it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drink alcohol.

Alcohol sales in Alabama's dry counties

Alabama has a complex relationship with alcohol. While the state is not dry, it has strict laws regarding alcohol manufacturing, distribution, sales, and consumption. Notably, Alabama has several dry counties, where there are very few or no options for purchasing alcohol. However, alcohol sales are permitted in some cities within these dry counties.

Alabama allows its counties and cities to set their own hours for selling alcohol, with the only statewide restriction being that alcohol cannot be sold after 2 a.m. on Sundays. This means that the time you can buy beer in Alabama on a Sunday will vary depending on your location within the state.

In terms of alcohol sales in Alabama's dry counties, it's important to understand that there are no completely dry counties in the state. Out of 67 counties, 24 are partially dry, meaning they have wet cities within them. These "moist" counties include:

• Blount County: Includes the wet cities of Oneonta, Blountsville, and Cleveland.
• Clay County: Includes the wet cities of Ashland and Lineville.
• Morgan County: Includes the wet cities of Decatur, Hartselle, and Priceville.

In these dry counties, alcohol sales are heavily restricted outside of the specified wet cities. However, it's worth noting that even within the wet cities, there may be specific regulations and restrictions on alcohol sales, such as allowable hours or on-premises versus off-premises consumption.

To further complicate matters, Alabama's laws regarding alcohol sales are subject to change over time. For example, cities like Oneonta, Blountsville, and Cleveland in Blount County became wet in 2014, and Ashland and Lineville in Clay County followed suit in 2016. Additionally, Alabama's largest dry city, Hartselle, recently passed alcohol sales in 2024, demonstrating the dynamic nature of these regulations.

Therefore, when it comes to alcohol sales in Alabama's dry counties, it's essential to stay informed about the specific regulations in your particular county and city. While some wet cities may allow alcohol sales on Sundays, the hours and locations of these sales can vary, and certain types of alcohol may be prohibited altogether. It's always a good idea to check the local laws before making any alcohol-related plans in Alabama's dry counties.

Alcohol sales in Alabama's wet counties

Alabama has no counties that are completely dry. Of the 67 counties in the state, 24 are partially dry, meaning they have wet cities within them. These 24 "moist" counties include:

• Blount
• Clay
• And 22 others

Alabama has a number of dry counties and other areas. However, the state does not prohibit or severely restrict the sale of alcohol. Instead, Alabama gives its counties the power to decide their wet or dry status.

Each county and city can set its own sales hours. Beer and weak wine can be sold in many retailers, but the state controls the sale of liquor and full-strength wine.

In Montgomery, Alabama, you can buy beer for off-premise consumption 24/7. You can buy beer for on-premise consumption 24 hours a day except for Sunday. State-run liquor stores are closed on Sundays and only open from 9 am until 9 pm Monday through Saturday.

In Baldwin County, both on-premises and off-premises sales are permitted, whereas in Perry and Wilcox counties, both are limited to off-premises sales. Houston County does not allow on-premise sales.

The sale of alcohol on Sundays varies by region. For example, in Shelby County, Alabama, you cannot buy alcohol on Sundays except for beer and wine sold in grocery stores. However, bars and other package alcohol stores may be open on Sundays, but they are prohibited from selling any alcohol. In Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Auburn, Sunday sales are allowed starting at 10 am.

Alabama law makes it illegal to sell alcoholic beverages after 2 am on Sunday except when authorized by a separate law. Counties must go to the Legislature for permission to allow alcohol sales on Sundays.

Alcohol sales in Alabama's 'moist' counties

Alabama has no counties that are completely dry. However, of the 67 counties in the state, 24 are partially dry, meaning they have wet cities within them. These 24 "moist" counties include:

• Bibb
• Blount
• Bullock
• Chambers
• Cherokee
• Clay
• Cleburne
• Coffee
• Colbert
• Conecuh
• Coosa
• Crenshaw
• Cullman
• Dale
• DeKalb
• Elmore
• Escambia
• Fayette
• Franklin
• Geneva
• Henry
• Lamar
• Lawrence
• Lee
• Limestone
• Lowndes
• Macon
• Madison
• Marengo
• Marion
• Marshall
• Monroe
• Morgan
• Perry
• Pickens
• Pike
• Randolph
• Russell
• Shelby
• St. Clair
• Sumter
• Talladega
• Tallapoosa
• Tallapoosa
• Tuscaloosa
• Walker
• Washington
• Wilcox

In these "moist" counties, alcohol is heavily restricted outside of the wet cities.

The sale of alcohol in Alabama is controlled by the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board, which regulates distribution, sales, and licensing. While the state does not specify the hours of sale for alcohol, it dictates that alcohol can't be sold after 2 a.m. on Sundays. Each county and city can set its own sales hours, and Sunday alcohol sales vary widely by location.

In Montgomery, for example, you can buy alcohol any time on Sunday except between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. State-run liquor stores, however, are closed on Sundays. Grocery stores and liquor stores are able to sell alcohol between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. from Sunday to Saturday.

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