What Time Can You Buy Beer in All 50 States?

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

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

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 

SundayNoon - 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.

What Time Can You Buy Beer in All 50 States

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