South Carolina's Sunday Beer Buying Options

South Carolina's liquor laws are complex and vary depending on the location and type of alcohol. While you can buy beer in South Carolina in several places, including bars, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and breweries, there are restrictions on when and where you can purchase it. Sunday beer sales are generally banned statewide, but some counties and cities have been granted permission through referendums to sell beer on Sundays. These areas include Columbia, Spartanburg, Charleston, Greenville, Aiken, Rock Hill, and more. Additionally, certain counties may enforce time restrictions for beer sales, such as no sales after 2 a.m. in Pickens County. It's important to check the local laws in your specific area within South Carolina to understand the regulations around purchasing beer on Sundays.

Beer can be bought in gas stations, grocery stores, bars, restaurants, and breweries

Gas Stations

Gas stations in South Carolina can sell beer 24 hours a day from Monday to Saturday. Beer sales are not permitted on Sundays unless the gas station is located in a county or city that allows it.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores are another convenient option for purchasing beer. They are typically open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, except Sundays, unless they are in an area that permits Sunday alcohol sales. It's important to note that beer purchased from grocery stores is strictly for off-premise consumption.

Bars and Restaurants

Bars and restaurants in South Carolina are licensed to sell beer from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday. They are not allowed to sell beer on Sundays unless permitted by the county. Additionally, beer purchased in these establishments is for on-premise consumption only.

Breweries and Taprooms

Breweries and taprooms follow similar hours to bars and restaurants, operating from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday. They may also be open on Sundays in counties that allow it. These establishments offer beer on draft and in growlers, packaged bottles, and cans to go.

Sunday Beer Sales

While Sunday beer sales are generally banned statewide in South Carolina, some counties and cities have obtained permission through referendums. These areas include Abbeville, Berkeley, Beaufort, Charleston, Darlington, Dorchester, Georgetown, Greenwood, Horry, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Richland (unincorporated areas only), and York. Additionally, cities such as Columbia, Spartanburg, Greenville, Aiken, Rock Hill, Summerville, and Clemson also permit Sunday beer sales.

Liquor can only be bought at licensed liquor stores

South Carolina's liquor laws are complex and vary depending on the location and type of alcohol. While you can buy beer and wine in South Carolina seven days a week, liquor can only be purchased at licensed liquor stores, and even these have restricted opening hours.

Liquor stores in South Carolina are only permitted to sell alcohol to customers from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. They are not allowed to operate on Sundays. This restriction applies to liquor stores across the state, including those located in counties or cities that have been granted Sunday sales permission for beer and wine through referendums.

While some counties and cities in South Carolina allow the sale of beer and wine in stores and restaurants on Sundays, liquor purchases are limited to licensed liquor stores and are not available for purchase on Sundays anywhere in the state. This means that if you are specifically looking to buy liquor, you will need to plan your purchase accordingly, as these stores are not open for business on Sundays.

The restriction on Sunday liquor sales is a result of South Carolina's historical approach to alcohol regulation. The state has a history of strict alcohol laws, including a period of prohibition endorsed by voters in 1892. While there are currently no dry counties in South Carolina, the sale of liquor is still heavily regulated, and the state continues to uphold certain restrictions, such as the ban on Sunday liquor sales.

It is important to note that the laws regarding alcohol sales in South Carolina can be complex and may vary by county and city. While liquor can only be purchased at licensed liquor stores with restricted hours, the specific days and times that these stores are permitted to operate may differ depending on the local regulations in your area. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the laws and regulations specific to your location within South Carolina.

Sunday sales are banned statewide, but some counties have been granted permission through referendums

South Carolina's Sunday liquor laws vary depending on the location. While Sunday sales are banned statewide, some counties and cities have been granted permission to sell beer and wine on Sundays through referendums. These areas include Abbeville, Berkeley, Beaufort, Charleston, Darlington, Dorchester, Georgetown, Greenwood, Horry, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Richland (unincorporated areas only), and York. Additionally, Lancaster and Lexington allow Sunday sales in cities with referendums.

In these counties and cities, both on-premise and off-premise sales of beer are permitted on Sundays. On-premise sales refer to sales in restaurants and bars, while off-premise sales refer to sales in grocery or convenience stores. The hours for on-premise sales of beer and wine on Sundays vary by local law, with some areas allowing sales from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

It is important to note that the sale of liquor on Sundays is still prohibited in South Carolina, and it can only be purchased at licensed liquor stores during the week. Additionally, beer cannot be purchased on Christmas in South Carolina, and there may be other specific days or events where sales are restricted.

The laws regarding alcohol sales in South Carolina can be complex and subject to change, so it is always a good idea to check the local laws before making plans to purchase or consume alcohol in the state.

On-premise locations allow beer sales Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m

On-premise locations in South Carolina, such as bars and restaurants, allow beer sales from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, beer sales are prohibited statewide, except in certain counties and cities that have been granted permission through referendums. These include Georgetown, Charleston, York, Horry, Darlington, Beaufort, and the unincorporated areas of Richland County.

On-premise locations in South Carolina typically follow a consistent schedule for beer sales during the week. From Monday to Saturday, beer can be purchased at bars and restaurants between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 a.m. This timeframe provides patrons with ample opportunity to enjoy a beer with their meal or while socialising at a bar. However, it's important to note that these establishments are not permitted to sell beer for off-premise consumption.

The hours for on-premise beer sales in South Carolina are designed to accommodate a wide range of patrons, from those seeking a morning beer with their brunch to those enjoying a late-night drink. The 10 a.m. starting time offers an early option for those who wish to include a beer with their morning or brunch plans. At the same time, the 2 a.m. closing time caters to those who prefer to indulge in a late-night drink, providing a lengthy window of opportunity to socialise and enjoy their favourite brews.

While the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday, are standard for on-premise beer sales in South Carolina, it's always a good idea to check the specific hours of operation for individual bars and restaurants, as their opening and closing times may vary. Additionally, some counties and cities in South Carolina have been granted special permission to allow on-premise beer sales on Sundays, providing patrons with even more opportunities to enjoy their favourite brews.

Off-premise locations can sell beer 24 hours a day, except on Sundays

South Carolina's alcohol laws can be confusing, with different rules for on- and off-premise locations, and variations between counties and cities.

Off-premise locations refer to places like grocery stores and gas stations, where alcohol is purchased for off-site consumption. In South Carolina, these locations can sell beer 24 hours a day, except on Sundays. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, as certain counties and cities have been granted permission to sell beer on Sundays through referendums. These referendums allow voters to decide whether to implement the change, and some counties have taken advantage of this to allow Sunday beer sales.

For example, in Charleston, South Carolina, in-store beer and wine sales are allowed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Other counties that allow Sunday beer and wine sales include Abbeville, Berkeley, Beaufort, Darlington, Dorchester, and Greenwood. On the other hand, Pickens County enforces a time restriction, with no sales after 2 a.m.

While off-premise locations have more flexibility in their selling hours, on-premise locations like bars and restaurants have stricter regulations. On-premise locations are only allowed to sell beer Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and are prohibited from selling beer on Sundays. However, similar to off-premise locations, certain counties and cities have obtained permission through referendums to sell beer on Sundays.

So, while the general rule in South Carolina is that off-premise locations can sell beer 24 hours a day except on Sundays, there are exceptions to this rule, and it's always a good idea to check the local laws in your specific area.

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