Where And When To Legally Buy Beer In Georgia

Georgia's alcohol laws can be confusing, as local jurisdictions are allowed to set their own, more restrictive rules. In general, in Georgia, you can buy beer for off-premises consumption between 8:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. However, these hours may vary depending on the county and the type of retailer. For example, in Atlanta, you can now buy beer from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, and some gas stations sell beer 24 hours a day.

Beer can be bought from 8 a.m. Monday to Saturday

This law applies to gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms. However, it's important to note that individual counties in Georgia can have their own regulations, and some may restrict the sale of alcohol further.

For example, in the city of Atlanta, you can buy beer 24 hours a day from Monday to Saturday and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. On the other hand, some counties may prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sundays altogether.

Additionally, while you can buy beer from 8 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, bars and restaurants are not allowed to start selling alcohol until 9 a.m.

It's also worth noting that Georgia has several dry counties, which place restrictions on the type of alcohol that can be sold and the times and places it can be purchased. These dry counties include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, Union, and White County.

Sunday sales are restricted to between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m

Alcohol sales laws in Georgia can be confusing because local jurisdictions are allowed to set their own, more restrictive rules. However, there are some statewide restrictions on Sunday sales of alcohol.

In Georgia, Sunday sales of alcohol are restricted to between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. This applies to grocery stores, liquor stores, gas stations, and other places that sell alcohol for off-premises consumption. This also applies to breweries and taprooms, which are generally open for longer during the rest of the week.

Some jurisdictions have a "brunch law" that allows bars and restaurants to begin serving alcohol earlier, at 11 a.m. on Sundays. However, they must still stop serving by 11:30 p.m.

It's worth noting that some counties in Georgia do not allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays at all. For example, in 2015, Cobb County did not permit Sunday alcohol sales before noon. In 2024, Coweta County allowed Sunday sales from 12:30 p.m. onwards, but some other counties restricted sales on Sundays altogether.

Beer can be purchased at bars, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms

Beer can be purchased at a variety of locations in Georgia, including bars, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms. However, the specific days and hours that beer can be sold vary by location type and county. Here is a detailed breakdown of where and when you can buy beer in Georgia:

Bars and Restaurants:

Bars and restaurants in Georgia are permitted to sell beer from 9 am to 2 am, Monday through Friday. On Sundays, they can start selling beer earlier, at 11 am, and must stop by 11:30 pm. Some counties may have a “brunch law” that allows bars and restaurants to begin serving alcohol as early as 11 am on Sundays. Additionally, certain counties may have different closing times for bars, with an average closing time of 2 am.

Gas Stations:

Gas stations in Georgia are allowed to sell beer from 8 am to 11:45 pm, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, beer sales at gas stations are restricted to the hours of 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm. Gas stations are not covered by the "brunch bill," which allows bars and restaurants to serve alcohol earlier on Sundays.

Grocery Stores:

Grocery stores in Georgia may sell beer from 8 am to 11:45 pm, Monday through Friday. On Sundays, the hours for beer sales in grocery stores are from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm. It's important to note that grocery stores are only allowed to sell beer and wine and cannot sell liquor, which is restricted to specially permitted package or liquor stores.

Liquor Stores:

Liquor stores in Georgia have similar hours to grocery stores. They can sell beer from 8 am to 11:45 pm, Monday through Friday. On Sundays, they must wait until 12:30 pm to start selling and must stop by 11:30 pm. It's important to note that liquor stores may be prohibited from selling distilled spirits in certain counties, and some counties may not allow liquor sales on Sundays.

Breweries and Taprooms:

Breweries and taprooms in Georgia can sell beer from 8 am to 11:45 pm, Monday through Friday. On Sundays, the hours are more limited, with sales permitted from 12:30 pm to 11:30 pm. Most breweries and taprooms cannot sell beer for off-premise consumption.

It's important to remember that Georgia has several dry counties that place restrictions on the type of alcohol that can be sold and the times and places it can be purchased. Additionally, local jurisdictions in Georgia can set more restrictive rules for alcohol sales, so it's always a good idea to check the specific regulations in your county or city.

Minors can drink with parental consent at home

In Georgia, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase, attempt to purchase, or possess any alcoholic beverage. It is also illegal for those under 21 to misrepresent their age or use false identification to buy alcohol. However, there is an exception to this rule: minors can drink with parental consent at home.

The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) prohibits alcohol consumption and purchase by those under 21, but with certain exceptions. One of these exceptions is that if a minor is at their parent or guardian's private residence and the parent or guardian is present, they are permitted to drink. This also applies to the furnishing of alcoholic beverages to minors, which can only be done by the parent or guardian in their private residence.

While it is legal for a minor to drink at their parent's house with their supervision, it is not legal to provide alcohol to minors who are not your own children. Several Georgia counties and municipalities have "social host laws" to protect minors from underage drinking parties. If law enforcement proves that the host knowingly held an underage drinking party, they can be charged with "providing a place for underage drinking." Penalties may include fines, community service, or even jail time.

The rules and regulations regarding minors in possession of alcohol can change with little to no advance warning, and vary from state to state. In Georgia, even though a minor may be allowed to drink with parental consent at home, they are still prohibited from purchasing alcohol for law enforcement purposes.

Growlers and other unsealed containers can be purchased

Growlers are not a common way to purchase beer, but they are still used today, with 32 and 64 fl oz being the standard sizes.

The times at which you can purchase growlers and other unsealed containers vary depending on the type of retailer and the day of the week. On Mondays through Saturdays, alcohol sales in Georgia can begin as early as 8 a.m. and must end by 11:45 p.m. for gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms. On Sundays, alcohol sales are restricted to between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. for these same retailers.

It is important to note that counties in Georgia can impose additional restrictions on alcohol sales times, so it is always a good idea to check the local laws in your area.

Additionally, there are dry counties in Georgia where the sale of alcohol is prohibited. As of 2023, the dry counties in Georgia include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, Union, and White Counties. So, if you are in one of these counties, you will not be able to purchase growlers or other unsealed containers.

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