In the United States of America,
every state has the right to create its own laws with regards to the sale of beer, wine and liquor. If you travel, it can be hard to keep up with all of the—sometimes insane—rules. That's why we created this Guide to Alcohol Laws by State.
Note that the legal drinking age in all 50 states is 21.
Alabama
- Grocery Stores
Beer & Wine
See More Information below on restrictions.- Bars & Restaurants
- 24/7, except to 2am on Sundays
- Liquor Stores
- 24/7, except to 2am on Sundays
- More Information
- 13.9% ABV cap on beer
Beer containers 25.4 oz or less
ABV > 14.9% wine sold in state stores
Sometimes the 24/7 rule is restricted by local communities such as counties or towns.
26 "dry counties" don't sell alcohol, but you can still drink it on your own property. Of those 26, 23 have at least one "wet" city (43 total), ie some places in dry counties have bars and liquor stores, and/or sell beer and wine in grocery stores. in Fact, state law allows any city with a population greater than 1,000 located within a dry county to "go wet" if a referendum is passed by 50% of voters.
Alaska
- Grocery Stores
No Alcohol in Grocery Stores
Though many have special separate areas you can purchase all three types.- Bars & Restaurants
- 8am to 5am
- Liquor Stores
- No (although many grocery stores have separate areas that sell all forms of alcoholic beverages and many bars sell packaged liquor as well)
- More Information
- Liquor stores closed until after polls close on Election Day.
You can legally buy your bartender a drink.
Arizona
- Grocery Stores
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 6am to 2am
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Drive through liquor stores.
190 proof Grain Alcohol.
Indian reservations typically have more restrictive laws.
You can get a DUI even after one drink.
Arkansas
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 7am to 1am
Some establishments open until 5am - Liquor Stores
- Monday – Friday: 7am to 1am
Saturday: 7am to midnight
No Sunday - More Information
- Private clubs exempt from dry counties, of which there are many.
No alcohol on Christmas Day.
California
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 6am to 2am
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is readily available in gas stations and convenience stores. California is the primary producer of wines and therefore has lots of local wine available. Plenty of craft beer throughout the state, too.
- More Information
- Relatively unrestricted; beer, wine and liquor available at grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and warehouse clubs. No statewide holiday restrictions.
Colorado
- Grocery Stores
Beer Only
Max 3.2% ABV- Bars & Restaurants
- 7am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 8am to Midnight
- Convenience Stores
- Alcohol is not sold in convenience stores. Plenty of craft beer throughout the state, though. Colorado is one of those states where there is just a ton of good beer.
- More Information
- You'll mostly find beer in dedicated stores, many of which have drive throughs. Beer in Grocery stores and convenience stores max 3.2% ABV.
Liquor and wine in special stores only, all of which are closed on Christmas. Any particular chain can only have one location.
A few grocery stores can sell liquor and wine as well as beer.
Connecticut
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer Only
- Bars & Restaurants
- Monday – Thursday: 9am to 1am
Friday - Saturday: 9am to 2am
Sunday: 11am to 1am - Liquor Stores
- Monday – Saturday: 8am to 9pm
Closed Sunday - More Information
- Beer can be purchased at grocery and convenience stores. Spirits and wine can be purchased only at liquor stores.
Delaware
- Grocery Stores
-
No Alcohol in Grocery Stores
- Bars & Restaurants
- 9am to 1am
- Liquor Stores
- Mon - Sat: 9am to 1am
Sun: noon to 8pm - More Information
- Cities over 50,000 persons may impose stricter hours of sale by local ordinance. Alcohol sales restricted on some holidays.
District Of Columbia
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Sunday – Thursday: 8am to 2am
Friday – Saturday: 8am to 3am - Liquor Stores
- 9am to 12am
- More Information
- Bars are open until 4am on New Year's Eve.
Florida
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
Only "low alcohol" liquor. - Bars & Restaurants
- 7am to 3am
- Liquor Stores
- 7am to 3am
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Miami-Dade county liquor stores are 24/7.
153 Proof max on liquor.
No "40s" or greater of beer (actually no "33s" or greater).
Georgia
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- vary by county
- Liquor Stores
- vary by county, no Sundays
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- 14% ABV max on beer.
Sunday sales are occasionally allowed from 12::30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
No public consumption, except in Savannah.
Hawaii
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 11:50am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 11:50am to 12am
- More Information
- In Honolulu County only, bars stop serving alcohol at 2 a.m., unless they have a "cabaret license", which gives them until 4 a.m.
Package stores in Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties are only open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Idaho
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- Varies, typically 11am to 7pm
- More Information
- Alcoholic beverages exceeding 16% ABV can only be sold in Idaho State Liquor Dispensary stores, or contracted stores.
Illinois
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 4am
- Liquor Stores
- locally controlled
- More Information
- Opening/closing hours are up to the decision of counties or towns.
Indiana
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
But you have to buy it warm. - Bars & Restaurants
- Monday – Saturday:7am to 3am
Sunday: 10:30am to 12:30am - Liquor Stores
- 7am to 3am
- More Information
- On Sundays, alcohol is only available in bars and restaurants, except you can get some carryout wine and beer from certain wineries and breweries.
No alcohol on Christmas. No minors, including babies, allowed in a liquor store.
Iowa
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Monday – Saturday: 6am to 2am
Sunday: 8am to 2am - Liquor Stores
- Monday – Saturday: 6am to 2am
Sunday: 8am to 2am - More Information
- Nothing much to tell.
Kansas
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer Only
Max 3.2% ABV - Bars & Restaurants
- 9am to 2am
Many counties ban alcohol in bars and restaurants - Liquor Stores
- Monday – Saturday: 9am to 11pm Sunday: noon to 7 or 8pm
- More Information
- 29 counties don't allow alcohol to be served in bars or restaurants.
59 counties require bars to make 30% of their revenue from food if they want to sell alcohol.
Only 17 counties generally have bars and restaurants which serve alcohol.
Kentucky
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer Only
- Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am
to 4am in Louisville - Liquor Stores
- Mon - Sat: 6am to 2pm No Sundays except Louisville.
- More Information
- No alcohol sales on Election day
Some localities don't allow Sunday sales of alcohol at bars and restaurants. 39 counties are dry, mostly in the eastern and southern parts of the state.
Louisiana
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 24/7
2am in some municipalities - Liquor Stores
- 24/7
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- You can drink out of a non-glass container and carry an open drink out, even from bar to bar, in New Orleans, and some other towns and cities. Parents can purchase alcohol for their children. Drive-thru frozen daiquiri stands are legal and common.
Maine
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Mon–Sat: 6am to 1am
Sun: 9am to 1am - Liquor Stores
- Mon–Sat: 6am to 1am
Sun: 9am to 1am - More Information
- On New Year's Day alcohol may be sold one hour later in all establishments. When St. Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday, bars and restaurants may serve alcohol starting at 6 a.m that day.
56 towns are dry.
Maryland
- Grocery Stores
- varies by location
- Bars & Restaurants
- vary quite a bit by locality
- Liquor Stores
- vary quite a bit by locality
- More Information
- Baltimore County prohibits the sale on Sunday in some areas.
Montgomery, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester sale of alcoholic beverages are controlled directly by the county Liquor Control Boards.
Garrett County prohibits the sale on Sunday except in some areas.
No dry counties, but some dry towns.
Massachusetts
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
In some gas stations - Bars & Restaurants
- Mon - Sat: 8am to 1am
Sun: 11am to 1am
until 2am in Boston - Liquor Stores
- Mon - Sat: 8am to 11pm
Sunday: noon to 11pm - More Information
- No individual, partnership, or corporation may have more than five off-premises licenses in the state, nor more than two in any city, nor more than one in any town. So chain stores rarely sell alcohol.
Chain stores not headquartered in MA can't apply for a license, and therefor can't sell alcohol.
Out of state driver's license don't count as proof of ID.
No happy hours. On Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, alcohol can be sold in bars and restaurants only. Alcohol sold on Election Day only after the polls close.
Michigan
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Mon - Sat: 7am to am
Sun: Noon to 2am - Liquor Stores
- Mon - Sat: 7am to 2am
Sun: Noon to 2am - Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is not usually available in gas stations and convenience stores, but in specially licensed "party stores".
- More Information
- Packaged alcohol primarily sold at "party stores", where you can by wine, beer and liquor, which are closed from noon Christmas Eve through Christmas day. New Year's Eve, bars are open until 4am.
Minnesota
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer Only
3.2% ABV max - Bars & Restaurants
- 8am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- Monday - Saturday: 8am to 10pm
No Sunday - Convenience Stores
- Beer is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- 3.2% max on beer in grocery stores.
Mississippi
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
Only wine under 5% ABV - Bars & Restaurants
- fixed by local municipalities.
- Liquor Stores
- Mon - Sat: 10am - 10pm
No Sunday - More Information
- ABW > 5% wine and sparkling wine sold in state-contracted stores only. Beer and light wine (ABW < 5%, ABV < ~6.3%) sold in convenience stores/supermarkets. Beer and light wine (ABW < 5%) may be consumed by persons age 18-20 with parental supervision.
No alcohol on Christmas.
No open container laws.
Free alcohol all day and night in coastal casinos.
Many dry counties in which it is illegal to even possess alcohol, though some cities within those counties permit alcohol sales and possession.
Missouri
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Monday – Saturday: 6am to 1:30am Sunday: 9am to midnight Kansas City & St. Louis: 6am to 3am
- Liquor Stores
- Monday - Saturday: 6am to 1:30am
Sunday: 9am to midnight - More Information
- Missouri is considered the second most alcohol-friendly state, after Nevada.
No open container law. No state public intoxication law.
Some bars in Kansas City and St. Louis double as liquor stores. In Kansas City's "Power and Light District", you can take open containers out of bars and into the street. Parents may give their kids alcohol.
Montana
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 10am to 6pm
Some stores are open later - Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- ABV > 16% wine sold in special stores, ABV < 16% available in grocery stores.
Nebraska
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 1am
- Liquor Stores
- Monday - Saturday: 6am to 1am
Sunday: noon to 1am - Convenience Stores
- Beer, wine and sometimes liquor is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Sometimes bars can be open until 2am.
Nevada
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 24 hours a day
- Liquor Stores
- 24 hours a day
- Convenience Stores
- Beer, liquor and wine is readily available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Nevada loves drinking. Public drunkenness is legal, as is public consumption.
New Hampshire
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 1am
- Liquor Stores
- 6am to 11:45pm
- More Information
- Liquor is sold in specialty stores, often in highway rest stops.
14% ABV max on beer.
New Jersey
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
Beer and wine in grocery stores is available, but rare. - Bars & Restaurants
- Varies, typically open until 2am
- Liquor Stores
- Hours of sale are regulated by each municipality.
- More Information
- Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City and other larger cities, closing time is 3 a.m. Atlantic City and Brigantine serves 24 hours. There are some dry towns in the southern part of the state, including Ocean City.
Chain stores can only have two licenses to sell alcohol, so finding it at grocery stores and gas stations is rare.
Bars can sell beer to go.
New Mexico
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Monday - Saturday: 7am to 2am
Sunday: 7am to 11pm - Liquor Stores
- Monday - Saturday: 7am to midnight
No Sundays - More Information
- A special Sunday permit is available which allows sale in bars or grocery stores on Sundays from noon until midnight.
No alcohol sales on Christmas. If New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday, bars may sell alcohol until 2am. Parents can give their children alcohol, but only in private residences.
New York
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer Only
- Bars & Restaurants
- Monday - Saturday: 8am to 4am Sunday: noon to 4am
- Liquor Stores
- Monday – Saturday: 9am to midnight
Sunday: noon to 9pm - More Information
- Wine and liquor at special stores only, which don't also sell beer.
12 dry towns, mostly in the western part of the state.
Chain stores typically can't and don't sell liquor.
North Carolina
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Monday – Saturday: 7am to 2am
Sunday: noon to 2am - Liquor Stores
- Monday – Saturday 11am to 9pm
No Sunday - Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is readily available in gas stations and convenience stores. North Carolina has some local wines and lots of great craft beers.
- More Information
- 15% ABV max on beer.
North Dakota
- Grocery Stores
-
No Alcohol in Grocery Stores
- Bars & Restaurants
- Monday – Saturday: 8am to 2am
Sunday: noon to 2am - Liquor Stores
- Monday - Saturday: 8am to 2am
Sunday: noon to 2am - More Information
- Alcohol available in bars and restaurants only on Thanksgiving Day, and inversely no restaurants or bars can sell alcohol on Christmas Day. No sale on Christmas Eve after 6pm.
Ohio
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
Max 21% ABV on liquor in grocery stores. - Bars & Restaurants
- 5:30am to 2:30am
- Liquor Stores
- 5:30am to 1am
- More Information
- 12% ABV cap on beer. 21% ABV cap on wine.
Oklahoma
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer Only
3.2% ABV max - Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- Monday - Saturday: 10am to 9pm
No Sunday - More Information
- 4.0% ABV/3.2 ABW or higher only sold at room temperature in liquor stores, which are closed Sundays and some holidays.
Oregon
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 7am to 2:30am
- Liquor Stores
- 7am to 2:30am
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores. Oregon has several local wines and many, many excellent craft breweries.
- More Information
- Nothing special here, except that Oregon has a lot of good beer.
Pennsylvania
- Grocery Stores
-
No Alcohol in Grocery Stores
Rare few exceptions - Bars & Restaurants
- Monday – Saturday: 7am to 2am
Sunday: 11am to 2am - Liquor Stores
- Monday – Saturday: 9am to 10pm
Sunday: Noon to 5pm - Convenience Stores
- Alcohol is rarely available in gas stations and convenience stores, except in a rare few exceptions. This is actively being fought by gas stations as of 2013.
- More Information
- Wine and liquor at special stores only. Beer can't be bought in grocery stores, but at specialty "six pack" stores, and then only by the six pack, and two six packs at a time. You can go back in as many times as you want, though, you just have to leave the first two sixers in your car, or on the street outside. Beer can be bought by the keg or case at special distributors only. While typically grocery stores and gas stations can't sell alcohol, a rare few exemptions exist. Giant Eagle and Wegmens grocery stores are the most common exemptions, as well as some Sheetz gas stations.
Rhode Island
- Grocery Stores
-
No Alcohol in Grocery Stores
- Bars & Restaurants
- until 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 9am to 10pm Monday – Saturday and Noon to 6pm Sunday
- More Information
- Nothing much to report here.
South Carolina
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
No Sundays - Bars & Restaurants
- Monday - Friday: 24/7
No Sundays - Liquor Stores
- 9am to 7pm
No Sundays - Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine are available at convenience stores, but only warm beer is available in gas stations.
- More Information
- 14% ABW (17.5% ABV) max on beer.
Wine > 16% ABV sold in liquor stores
Liquor stores are closed on Election Day.
South Dakota
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Mon - Sat: 7am to 2am
Sun: 7am to 2am - Liquor Stores
- Mon - Sat: 7am to 2am
Sun: 7am to 2am - Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- 14% ABV cap on beer.
Tennessee
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer Only
- Bars & Restaurants
- Mon - Sat: 8am to 3am
Sun: 10am to 3am - Liquor Stores
- Mon - Sat: 8am to 11pm
No Sunday - Convenience Stores
- Beer is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Wine is only sold in liquor stores. On Sunday, liquor in bars and restaurants only. Beer above 5% ABW / 6.3% ABV must be sold in liquor stores.
Open container law only applies to drivers, not passengers.
Texas
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- Monday-Friday: 7am to midnight
Saturday: 7am to 1am
Sunday: Noon to midnight
Some places til 2am - Liquor Stores
- Monday – Saturday: 10am to 9pm
No Sunday - Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- No alcohol max but ABV > 15.5% requires special license, so many places are beer and wine only.
If you order a drink at a bar or restaurant before noon on Sunday, you have to have food, too.
29 dry counties.
Parents can buy alcohol for their children, even in bars.
Utah
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer Only
3.2% ABV max - Bars & Restaurants
- Liquor: noon to to midnight
Beer: 10am to 1am - Liquor Stores
- Mon-Fri: til 10pm
No Sundays - Convenience Stores
- Some alcohol is available in gas stations and convenience stores, though availability varies throughout the state.
- More Information
- ABV > 4.0% sold in special stores. 3.2% ABW (4.0% ABV) beer may be sold at grocery stores and convenience stores. No alcohol is served in restaurants without purchase of food.
Vermont
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
Beer and wine up to ABV 16%. - Bars & Restaurants
- 8am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 6am to midnight
- More Information
- ABV > 16% beer and ABV > 16% wine are only available in state liquor stores.
Virginia
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 6am to midnight.
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Licensed supermarkets, convenience stores, and gas stations may sell beer and wine. Lots of dry counties.
Washington
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Wine and Liquor
Liquor generally available in stores larger than 10,000 square feet. - Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- 8am to 11pm, some sundays noon to 5pm Sunday
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is readily available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Exceptions to the 10,000 sq ft rule:
1. Former state stores turned private ownership.
2. Stores in cities where there are no stores that large, and where the state grants a special license.
West Virginia
- Grocery Stores
-
Liquor, Beer & Wine
- Bars & Restaurants
- 7am to 3:30am and noon to 3am Sundays
- Liquor Stores
- Mon-Fri: 7am to 3:30am
Sat: 7am to 3am
Sun: 1pm to 3am - Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- 12% ABV max on beer.
Wisconsin
- Grocery Stores
-
Beer, Liquor and Wine
by local ordinance only - Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am Sunday – Thursday but until 2:30am Friday – Saturday
- Liquor Stores
- 6am to 9pm
- Convenience Stores
- Beer and wine is available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Minors can drink if their parents or spouse allow it.
In most places, you can't buy alcohol after 9pm. Exceptions include Kenosha, Green Bay, La Crosse, Maple Bluff and Baraboo.
Wyoming
- Grocery Stores
-
No Alcohol in Grocery Stores
Exceptions include grocery stores with separate section / license for alcohol. - Bars & Restaurants
- 6am to 2am
- Liquor Stores
- Varies
- Convenience Stores
- Alcohol is not usually available in gas stations and convenience stores.
- More Information
- Nothing much to report here.
