The United States uses a complex system of federal, state, and local laws to police how we buy and consume beer. The federal alcohol restrictions apply to all states, while the local laws govern smaller jurisdictions.
They govern different aspects of beer consumption and purchase, including:
- Minimum drinking age
- Selling hours
- Alcohol content
- Alcohol licenses and permits
- Alcohol advertising
Let’s look at each aspect, including the regulations that apply to them.
Beer Minimum Drinking Age
It’s illegal for persons under 21 to buy, drink, or be in possession of alcoholic beverages. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act governs this law.
This law was enacted in 1984. However, it didn’t take effect in many states until 1988. Before ’88, different states had different age restrictions, typically ranging from 18-21.
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act only applies to the mainland. However, some territories took up 21 as their minimum drinking age. These territories include:
- The U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
- The Northern Mariana Islands
- American Samoa
- Guam
Other territories like the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico retained 18 as their minimum drinking age.
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Alcohol Content Restrictions
States can also regulate alcoholic beverages based on alcohol content. California allows for the sale of alcohol up to 60% ABV. Anything above 60% ABV is sold in drugstores or pharmacies.
A methylated spirit is a type of alcohol. But it isn’t available in liquor stores due to its high alcohol content.
Alcohol Licensing
You need a liquor license to sell or distribute beer and other alcoholic beverages. In America, liquor licenses and permits are issued by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). They award these permits to breweries, distributors, and retailers.
Beer Advertising
Apart from issuing permits, the TTB also approves beer labeling and advertising. According to the TTB, beer marketing material must have warning statements like “This Product Contains Alcohol” and “Drink Responsibly.”
Beer Sales Restrictions
The 21st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gave individual states the power to regulate the sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages. Many states restrict the times of day when retailers can sell beer.
In Mississippi, you can only buy beer between 10 am and 10 pm from Monday to Saturday. The southern state also outlaws alcohol sales on Sundays and Christmas Day.
Beer Buying Hours: State-by-State
Usually, states restrict beer sales along the following lines:
Business Premises: On-premises sales are the beers you consume within the retailer’s premises. These sales are relevant to bars and restaurants. Off-premises sales involve drinks that you buy to go. Think of buying a beer bottle or can from a liquor or grocery store.
Alcohol Type or Content: Some states restrict sales hours based on alcohol type. Usually, they classify alcohol as wines, beers, distilled liquor, or spirits. Other states base selling hours restrictions on alcohol content, usually in alcohol by volume (ABV).
Day: In some states, it is illegal to sell alcohol on certain days. In many southern states, you can’t buy beer on Sundays. In other states, you can’t buy alcoholic beverages on Christmas Day.
Knowing your state’s liquor laws can save you the embarrassment of pulling up to a closed liquor store. In this article, we’ll tackle the liquor laws of all states in the United States. Specifically, we’ll reveal when you’re allowed to buy beer.
Below is a table highlighting the alcohol-selling hours of each state in the United States.
State | On-Premises Sales | Off-Premises Sales | Prohibited Days |
Alabama | No restrictions | No restrictions | Sundays, Midnight-Noon |
Alaska | Weekdays: 8am - 5pm | Weekdays: 8am - 5pm | Depends on jurisdiction Election Days |
Arizona | 6am - 2am | 6am - 2am | None |
Arkansas | Every Day: 7am - 1am (depending on business type) | Weekdays: 7am - 1am Saturdays:7am - Midnight | Sundays Depending on jurisdiction |
California | Every Day: 6am - 2am | Every Day: 6am - 2am | Depending on jurisdiction |
Colorado | Every Day: 7am - 2am | Every Day: 8am - Midnight | Christmas Day |
Connecticut | Monday - Thursday: 9am - 1am Friday & Saturday: 9am - 2am Sunday: 11am - 1am | Monday - Thursday: 8am - 10pm Friday & Saturday: 8am - 10pm Sunday: 10am - 6pm | Thanksgiving Christmas Day New Years Day |
Delaware | Every Day: 9am - 1am | Monday - Saturday: 9am - 1am Sunday: Noon - 8pm | Easter Thanksgiving Christmas Day |
District of Columbia (Washington, DC) | Monday - Thursday: 8am - 2am Friday & Saturday: 8am - 3am Sunday: 8am - 2am | Monday - Thursday: 9am - Midnight Friday & Saturday: 9am - Midnight Sunday: 9am - Midnight | None |
Florida | Every Day: 7am - 1am Dade County: 24/7 | Every Day: 7am - 1am Dade County: 24/7 | None |
Georgia | Every Day: 24/7 Depending on jurisdiction | Every Day: 24/7 Depending on jurisdiction | Sundays: 12.30pm - 11.30 pm |
Hawaii | Every Day: Until 2am | Every Day: 6am - Midnight (Honolulu County) Every Day: 6am - 11pm (other counties) | None |
Idaho | Every Day: 6am - 1am Extended in some counties | Every Day: 6am - 1am Extended in some counties | Sundays Memorial Day Thanksgiving Christmas Day |
Illinois | Monday - Saturday: 7am - 3am Sunday: 7am - 3am Depending on jurisdiction | Monday - Saturday: 7am - 3am Sunday: 7am - 3am Depending on jurisdiction | None |
Indiana | Monday - Saturday: 7am - 3am Sunday: 7am - 3am | Monday - Saturday: 7am - 3am Sunday: Noon - 8pm | None |
Iowa | Monday - Saturday: 6am - 2am Sunday: 9am - 2am | Monday - Saturday: 6am - 2am Sunday: 9am - 2am | None |
Kansas | Monday - Saturday: 9am - 2am Sunday: 6am - 2am | Monday - Saturday: 9am - 11pm Sunday: 9am - 8pm | Easter Thanksgiving Chrismas |
Kentucky | Depending on jurisdiction | Depending on jurisdiction | Depending on jurisdiction |
Louisiana | Depending on jurisdiction | Depending on jurisdiction | Depending on jurisdiction |
Maine | Every Day, 5am - 1am | Every Day, 5am - 1am | None |
Maryland | Depending on jurisdiction | Depending on jurisdiction | Sudays Depending on jurisdiction |
Massachusetts | Monday - Saturday, 8am - 2am Sunday, 11am - 2am | Monday - Saturday, 9am - 11pm Sunday, 10am - 11pm | Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day |
Michigan | Monday - Saturday, 7am - 2am Sunday, Noon - 2am | Monday - Saturday, 7am - 2am Sunday, Noon - 2am New Year’s Extended until 4am | Christmas Day Before Noon |
Minnesota | Monday - Saturday, 8am - 2am Sunday, 8am - 2am | Monday - Saturday, 8am - 10am Sunday, 11am - 6pm | None |
Mississippi | Depending on jurisdiction | Gocery Store, Monday to Saturday 10am - 10pm Liquor Stores, Monday - Saturday, 24/7 | Sunday Christmas Day |
Missouri | Every Day, 6am - 1.30 am Special License Extensions until 3am | Every Day, 6am - 1.30 am Special License Extensions until 3am | None |
Montana | Monday - Saturday, Until 2am Sunday, Until 2am | Monday - Saturday, 8am - 2am Sunday, 8am - 2am | Sundays For liquor stores |
Nebraska | Monday - Saturday, 6am - 1am Sunday, 6am - 1am | Beer Monday - Saturday, 6am - 1am Sunday, 6am - 1am Liquor/Spirits Monday - Saturday, 6am - 1am Sunday, Noon - 1am | None |
Nevada | No Restrictions | No Restrictions | Penaca Township Allowed any 1 hr of any day |
New Hampshire | Every Day, 6am - 1am | Every Day, 6am - 11.45pm | None |
New Jersey | Every Day, Until 2am or 3am Atlantic City, 24/7 | Every Day, 9am - 10pm Atlantic City, 24/7 | None |
New Mexico | Monday - Saturday 7am - 2am | Monday - Saturday 7am - Midnight | Sundays Christmas Day |
New York | Monday - Saturday 8am - 4am Sunday, Noon - 4am | Beer Every Day: 24/7 Wines and Spirits Monday - Saturda: 8am - Midnight Sunday: Noon - 9pm | None |
North Carolina | Monday - Saturday, 7am - 2am Sunday, 10am - 2am | Beer & Wine Monday - Saturday 7am - 2am Sunday, 10am - 2am Liquor (ABC Stores) Monday - Saturday, 9am - 9pm | Liqour sales on Sundays |
North Dakota | Every Day, 8am - 2am | Every Day, 8am - 2am | Off-premisses on: Christmas Eve: after 6pm Thanksgiving: after 2am |
Ohio | Every Day 5.30am - 2.30 am | Every Day, 5.30am - 1am , Depending on jurisdiction | None |
Oklahoma | Every Day, 7am - 2am | Grocery Store Every Day, 6am - 2am Liquor Store Monday - Saturday 8am - Midnight | Sunday Depending on jurisdiction |
Oregon | Every Day, 7am - 2.30 am | Every Day, 7am - 2.30 am | None |
Pennsylvania | Bars & Restaurants Monday - Saturday, 7am - 2am Sunday, Noon - 5pm Clubs Every Day, 7am - 3am | State liquore Stores Monday - Saturday, 9am - 10pm Sunday, Noon - 5pm Grocery Store (Beer) Monday - Saturday, 7am -10pm Sunday, 9am - 10pm | None |
Rhode Island | Monday - Saturday, 9am - 1am Sunday, Noon - 1am | Monday - Saturday, 9am - 10pm Sunday, 10am - 6pm | None |
South Dakota | Every Day, 7am - 2am | Every Day, 7am - 2am | None |
Tennessee | Monday - Saturday, 8am - 3am Sunday, 10am - 3am | Monday - Saturday, 8am - 3am Sunday, 10am - 11pm | Thanksgiving Christmas Day |
Texas | Hotel Bars 24/7 Other Entities Monday - Friday 7am - 12am Saturday, 7am - 1am | Grocery Stores Monday - Friday 8am - 12am Saturday, 7am - 1am Sunday, Noon - Midnight Liquor Stores Monday - Saturday 10am - 9pm | Liquor stores close on Sundays |
Utah | Restaurant Monday - Friday, 11.30 - Midnight Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays, 11.30 - Midnight Bars Every Day, 10am - 1am | Grocery Store Every Day 10am - 1am Liquor Store Monday - Saturday, 11am - 5pm / 10pm | Liquor Stores close on Sundays |
Vermont | Every Day, 8am - 2am | Every Day, 6am - Midnight | None |
Virginia | Bars & Restaurants Every Day, 6am - 2am Clubs No retrictions | Grocery Stores Every Day, 6am - Midnight State Liquor Stores Monday - Saturday, 10am - 9pm Sunday, 10am - 6pm | |
Washington State | Every Day: 6am - 2am Depending on jurisdiction | Every Day: 6am - 2am Depending on jurisdiction | None |
West Virginia | Bars & Restaurants Every Day: 6am - 2am Private Clubs Every Day: 6am - 3am | Grocery Store Every Day: 6am - 2am Liquor Store Every Day: 6am - Midnight | Liquor stores close on: Easter Christmas |
Wisconsin | Sunday - Thursday: 6am - 2am Friday & Saturday: 6am - 2.30 am | Every Day: 6am - 9pm or Midnight | None |
Wyoming | Every Day: 6am - 2am | Every Day: 6am - 2am | None |
Final Thoughts
Thanks to The 21st Amendment, states can restrict beer-selling hours. The article above saves you the embarrassment of walking to a closed liquor store. Are you planning to visit another state? Bookmark this article and stay informed.
As a homebrewer, Michael would get frustrated about the lack of brewing information on the internet. After hundreds of gallons of spoilt batches, Micheal had enough. And he founded Unknown Brewing as a resource for homebrewers.