Buying Beer In Minnesota: Know The Legal Hours

Minnesota has a myriad of laws surrounding the sale of alcohol, including the times that beer can be bought. In Minnesota, beer can be bought in bars and restaurants from 8 am to 2 am Monday to Saturday and on Sundays from 8 am to 2 am only if the establishment has a Sunday sales permit. Retailers can sell beer Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm and from 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. Liquor stores in Minnesota sell beer Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm and from 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. Grocery stores in Minnesota can sell beer with a maximum ABV of 3.2% from 8 am to 10 pm every day except Sundays, unless they have a Sunday sales permit.

Beer with an ABV of 3.2% or lower can be purchased at gas stations and grocery stores

Minnesota has a myriad of laws surrounding the sale of alcohol, and the times you can buy beer will vary depending on where you are purchasing it from.

Beer with an ABV of 3.2% or lower, sometimes referred to as "near beer", can be purchased at gas stations and grocery stores in Minnesota. These are the only types of retailers that can sell beer with an ABV above 3.2%. Gas stations are usually open 24/7, so you can buy beer at any time, whereas grocery stores are typically open from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday.

Buying beer in bars and restaurants

In Minnesota, you can buy beer on tap and in cans and bottles at bars and restaurants. These locations are open Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 2 am and on Sundays from 8 am to 2 am, but only if the establishment has a Sunday sale permit.

Buying beer in liquor stores

Liquor stores are the only place in Minnesota where you can buy beer for off-premise consumption above 3.2% ABV. They are open from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays, but only if they have a Sunday sales permit.

Buying beer in breweries and taprooms

Breweries and taprooms in Minnesota can be open from 8 am to 2 am every day, but most close by 11 pm. Sunday sales are permitted without a permit.

Wine and spirits are only sold at municipal liquor stores

Minnesota has a unique set of laws surrounding the sale of alcohol. Notably, wine and spirits are only sold in municipal-controlled stores, while beer with less than 3.2% ABV can be purchased in grocery stores and gas stations. This means that if you're looking to buy wine or spirits, you'll need to head to one of these municipal liquor stores during their specified operating hours.

Municipal liquor stores in Minnesota are the go-to places for purchasing wine and distilled spirits. These stores are typically open from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday through Saturday, and from 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. This is in contrast to bars and restaurants, which can serve alcohol seven days a week from 8 am to 2 am. However, it's worth noting that bars and restaurants are not allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays without a special Sunday sale permit.

The restriction on wine and spirits sales to municipal liquor stores is an interesting aspect of Minnesota's alcohol regulations. This means that grocery stores and gas stations are limited to selling only beer, and even then, it must be the lower-ABV variety. This is a unique feature compared to other states, where wine and spirits may be more widely available in various retail outlets.

The hours for purchasing alcohol in Minnesota are also worth noting. With the exception of bars and restaurants, which can serve alcohol until 2 am every day, the sale of alcohol is restricted to specific times. Municipal liquor stores follow the standard hours of 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays. These hours are important to keep in mind when planning your purchases.

In addition to the restrictions on wine and spirits sales, Minnesota also has other unique alcohol regulations. For example, the state bans open containers in vehicles, and any open bottles of alcohol must be transported in the vehicle's trunk. Minnesota also has a "per se intoxicated" rule, which means that anyone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over 0.08% can be convicted of a DUI. The state also allows minors to drink alcohol with their parents' permission in private residences.

Alcohol can be purchased from 8 am to 10 pm Monday to Saturday

Minnesota has a myriad of laws surrounding the sale of alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase in retail package stores, but some areas only allow sales from state-owned stores. Beer and wine are sold in convenience and grocery stores in areas where state-owned stores are not mandatory.

Generally, alcohol can be purchased from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, alcohol sales are restricted to between 11 am and 6 pm.

Bars and restaurants are permitted to serve alcohol seven days a week, from 8 am to 2 am. However, on Sundays, they require a permit to do so.

Liquor stores are closed on Thanksgiving, after 8 pm on Christmas Eve, and all day on Christmas Day.

Minnesota counties reserve the right to enforce stricter alcohol sales and consumption laws than those in place at the state level.

Gas stations and grocery stores in Minnesota can only sell beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% or less.

Municipal liquor stores are the only places where you can buy beer for off-premise consumption with an alcohol content above 3.2%.

Minnesota has a "per se intoxicated" rule, meaning anyone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over 0.08% could be convicted of a DUI. Open containers of alcohol are not allowed in vehicles and must be transported in the trunk.

On Sundays, alcohol can be purchased from 11 am to 6 pm

Minnesota has a myriad of laws surrounding alcohol sales, and its rules differ from other states.

There are some important restrictions to note. No off-premise sales are allowed on Thanksgiving, after 8 pm on Christmas Eve, or all day on Christmas Day. Additionally, liquor stores are closed on Thanksgiving and after 8 pm on Christmas Eve through Christmas Day.

It's also worth mentioning that Minnesota counties can enforce stricter alcohol sales laws than those at the state level. For example, while bars and restaurants are allowed to serve beer in any county, no gas stations or grocery stores in the state can sell beer greater than 3.2% ABV.

In Minnesota, the legal drinking age is 21, and individuals as young as 18 can work as servers or bartenders and sell alcohol in liquor or retail stores.

Bars and restaurants can serve alcohol from 8 am to 2 am, seven days a week

Bars and restaurants in Minnesota can serve alcohol from 8 am to 2 am, seven days a week. This includes beer on tap and in cans and bottles. However, there are some nuances to the law.

Firstly, while bars and restaurants can be open on Sundays, they are only permitted to serve alcohol on this day if they have a Sunday sale permit. This means that, in practice, alcohol is typically served in bars and restaurants from 8 am Monday to 2 am Saturday.

Secondly, although the law states that bars and restaurants can serve alcohol until 2 am, some sources suggest that they are required to stop serving alcohol earlier than this, at what is known as "soft close". One source states that "great breweries in the state [...] seem to have a 'soft bar close' [...] [where] people aren't kicked out at 2 am, but [are] no longer served [alcohol]".

Additionally, it is worth noting that the above laws do not apply to gas stations and grocery stores, which are only permitted to sell beer with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 3.2% or lower. This is sometimes referred to as "near beer". These low-ABV beers can be sold from open to close, and most gas stations are open 24/7.

Finally, the legal drinking age in Minnesota is 21, and open containers of alcohol are not allowed in vehicles and must be transported in the trunk.

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