Late-Night Beer Runs: Where To Buy After 12

There are many options for buying beer after 12 pm, depending on your location and preferences. Some popular options include local liquor stores, supermarkets, and online retailers. Online retailers like Drizly, Saucey, and Minibar offer delivery services, while apps like Untappd, Oznr, and CraftShack provide a wide range of craft beers with various shipping restrictions. Additionally, some states in the US are considering legislation to expand alcohol sales beyond liquor stores, which may soon allow beer purchases in grocery stores and other retailers.

Gas stations

It is important to note that liquor laws can be quite complex and subject to change, so it is always a good idea to check the regulations in your specific state, county, or city. For instance, in some states like California, alcohol can be purchased at gas stations from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day of the year, but cities and counties may impose additional restrictions. Similarly, while Arizona allows alcohol sales from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, individual counties may have their own rules, like Maricopa County, which prohibits alcohol sales from 2:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Additionally, the type of alcohol being sold can also impact the hours of sale. For example, in some states, liquor stores may have different hours than gas stations or grocery stores, and certain states only allow the sale of beer and wine at gas stations, not liquor. Furthermore, some states have specific days when alcohol sales are prohibited, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day.

To ensure you are complying with local laws, it is recommended to check the website of your state or local liquor authority for the most up-to-date information.

Bars and restaurants

In Texas, bars and restaurants with an on-premises license to serve alcohol can sell beer from 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, they can start pouring as early as 7 a.m. and continue until 1 a.m. on Sunday morning.

There is a special rule for Sundays: alcohol sales are only permitted from noon to midnight. However, if customers are also served food, establishments can start serving alcoholic drinks as early as 10 a.m.

In Austin, Texas, most drinking establishments follow similar rules, with alcohol service allowed from 12 pm to 2 am on Sundays.

It's important to note that bars and restaurants can be held liable for drunk driving accidents if they irresponsibly serve alcohol to their customers. Therefore, it is always important to drink responsibly and plan a safe way home if you plan to consume alcohol at bars or restaurants.

Grocery stores

The availability of beer in grocery stores depends on the state and, in some cases, the county or city. For example, in Texas, grocery stores can sell beer from 7:00 am to midnight, Monday to Friday, from 7:00 am to 1:00 am on Saturday, and from 10:00 am to midnight on Sunday. However, in Alabama, grocery stores are allowed to sell alcohol from 6:00 am to 2:00 am, while in California, they can sell alcohol from 6:00 am to 2:00 am any day of the year, and cities and counties can set additional restrictions.

In some states, the hours for selling beer vary depending on the day of the week. For instance, in Iowa, alcohol selling hours are from 8:00 am to 2:00 am on Sundays and from 6:00 am to 2:00 am on weekdays. Similarly, in Arizona, beer can be purchased from 6:00 am to 2:00 am every day of the year.

It's important to note that some states have more complex liquor laws, like Texas, which has specific hours for beer and wine sales and restricted days for liquor purchases. Additionally, some states have dry counties or jurisdictions where alcohol sales are prohibited, such as several counties in Alabama.

To ensure you're complying with local laws, it's always a good idea to check the specific regulations for your state, county, or city. These laws can change, and staying informed will help you make legal purchases.

Breweries and taprooms

The craft beer scene has exploded in recent years, with a host of new taprooms and brewery tours opening to the public. These taprooms offer a unique, cosy experience, and often provide a direct connection to the community and the brewing process.

London, UK

London's craft beer scene has grown at an astonishing rate. From Bermondsey Beer Mile haunts to microbreweries, there are plenty of options to explore. Here are some of the best breweries and taprooms in London:

• Exale Brewing & Taproom: Located on the Blackhorse Beer Mile in Walthamstow, Exale offers a weekly changing menu of pints, including the bright orange Krankie sour. They also feature rotating kitchen residents, such as haggis supremos Auld Hag and Black Cactus BBQ.
• Eko Brewery and Taproom: This Peckham taproom serves unique beers made from coconut palm sugar and South African hops, using traditional African brewing techniques. They also offer excellent West African and Caribbean cuisine.
• Brick Brewery Taproom: Another Peckham stalwart, Brick offers a no-nonsense atmosphere and a range of beers, including the Peckham Pale, Peckham IPA, and Peckham Pils. They also host pop-up art exhibitions.
• Hackney Church Brew Co: This taproom, located in a railway arch, features a charming walled beer garden. It's a great spot to sample the brewery's drinkable range and enjoy barbecue specials from Lagom.
• Blondies Brewery: A roomy offshoot of Clapton's satan-worshipping dive bar, Blondies is located in the Patchworks creative space in Leyton. They offer pint and pizza deals, vintage markets, record fairs, and film screenings.
• Big Penny Social: An adult playground with three bars, 82 taps, and four tanks where they brew their own beer. It's a great spot for a night out with friends.
• Cloudwater London: Migrating down from Manchester, Cloudwater has made a significant impact on the London beer scene with its seasonal-first approach. They offer 20 ever-changing taps at their spacious Enid Street railway arch location.
• 40FT Brewery Taproom: An indie brewery and taproom located next to the live-fire restaurant, Acme Fire Cult. They offer a short food menu, cocktails, cans, and 10 taps of fresh beer brewed on-site.
• The Five Points Brewery and Courtyard: A sprawling space ideal for sunny days, featuring their own Five Points Pale and JUPA on tap. They also have impeccable food, with From The Ashes BBQ masters in permanent residence.
• Camden Town Brewery Bar: A bright-red emblazoned home of Hells, Show Off, and Gentleman's Wit. They offer brewery tours, street food appearances, and all your favourite beers on tap.

Seattle, USA

Seattle's Ballard 'Brewery District' is also worth mentioning, with establishments like Stoup Brewing offering award-winning beers in a family-friendly environment.

Boston, USA

The western suburbs of Boston have seen an explosion of taprooms, including Start Line in Hopkinton, CraftRoots in Milford, and Medusa in Hudson. These taprooms offer a variety of fresh, craft beers and a cosy community feel.

So, whether you're in London, Seattle, or Boston, there are plenty of breweries and taprooms to explore and enjoy a cold one after 12!

Liquor stores

In Texas, liquor can only be purchased from specific liquor stores, as grocery stores, drug stores, and convenience stores do not sell liquor. These liquor stores are typically open from 10 am to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, and are closed on Sundays.

On weekdays and Saturdays, liquor sales at these stores must cease by 9 pm. In addition to Sundays, liquor stores are also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If one of these holidays falls on a Sunday, the stores will remain closed on the following Monday.

It's important to note that Texas has specific laws regulating the sale of alcohol, known as blue laws, which were introduced to uphold the social and religious well-being of communities. While many of these restrictions were repealed in 1985, the restrictions on alcohol sales, particularly liquor, remain in place.

So, if you're looking to buy beer after 12, your best bet would be to head to a liquor store before 9 pm on a weekday or Saturday, as they are closed on Sundays and certain holidays.

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