List of alcohol laws of the United States
This list of alcohol laws of the United States by state provides an overview of alcohol-related laws by state throughout the United States. This list is not intended to provide a breakdown of such laws by local jurisdiction within a state; see that state's alcohol laws page for more detailed information.
As of 2006 all states have a minimum purchase age of 21.
Entries marked with a * have additional information in the Notes column for that state.
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
| State | Alcohol beverage control state | Alcohol sale hours | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer | Wine | Distilled spirits | On-premises | Off-premises | ||||
| Alabama | No | No* | Yes | no later than 2 a.m. on Sundays* | 6% ABV cap on beer Beer containers may not exceed 16 ounces ABV > 14.9% wine sold in state stores Alcohol may be served 24 hours unless restricted by local ordinances | |||
| Alaska | No | 8 a.m. – 5 a.m. | Off-premises sales only allowed in liquor stores. | |||||
| Arizona | No | 6 a.m. – 2 a.m.* | No alcohol sales before 10 a.m. on Sundays | |||||
| Arkansas | No | 7 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Class A Private Club)* 10 a.m. – 5 a.m. (Class B Private Club)* 7 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Restaurant)* |
7 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Mon.-Fri.)* 7 a.m. – midnight (Sat.)* |
Has numerous dry counties and other "dry" areas, but private clubs can serve even in dry areas. Alcohol sales are generally prohibited on Sundays, but exceptions can be made thru local option (usually for restaurants and private clubs). No sales on Christmas Day. | ||||
| California | No | 6 a.m. – 2 a.m. | Local and/or County ordinance prevails for hours of operation for both on and off sale licenses. | |||||
| Colorado | No | 7 a.m. – 2 a.m. | 8 a.m. – midnight (Mon.-Sat.)* | Spirituous, vinous & malt liquor available in liquor stores only. Liquor stores closed on Sundays & Christmas Day. Off-premises sales of 3.2% ABW fermented malt beverages allowed on Sundays. | ||||
| Connecticut | No | 9 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Mon.-Thur.)* 9 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Fri.-Sat.)* |
8 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Mon.-Sat.)* | No off-premises sales on Sundays; Sunday on-premises sales subject to local ordinances. No holiday sales. | ||||
| Delaware | No | 9 a.m. – 1 a.m. | 9 a.m. – 1 a.m. (Mon.-Sat.) noon – 8 p.m. (Sun.) |
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| Florida | No | No alcohol sale before 12 p.m. on Sundays. State default law prohibits selling of alcohol between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., unless the county chooses to change the operating hours later. Miami-Dade County liquor stores may operate 24 hours a day. | ||||||
| Georgia | No | 14% ABV cap on beer No Sunday off-premises sales | ||||||
| Hawaii | No | 11:50 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. | 2:00 a.m unless cabaret license is present, then 4:00 a.m. | |||||
| Idaho | No | Yes | ||||||
| Illinois | No | |||||||
| Indiana | No | 7 a.m. - 3 a.m. Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sun (on-premises only) |
7 a.m. - 3 a.m. Mon-Sat | Sales limited to on-premises in restaurants on Sundays
No sales on Christmas or Election Days | ||||
| Iowa | No | Yes | 6 a.m. - 2 a.m. Mon-Sat 8 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sun |
ABW > 5% beer shipped through state warehouse | ||||
| Kansas | No | Sales limited to on-premises in restaurants on Sundays | ||||||
| Kentucky | No | 6 a.m. to Midnight | 6 a.m. to Midnight | Local ordinance may vote to permit Sunday sales at restaurants. | ||||
| Louisiana | No | |||||||
| Maine | No | No* | Yes | ABV > 15.5% wine sold in state stores. Alcohol may not be purchased after 1am any day of the week, may not be purchased prior to 6am Monday through Saturday, and not prior to 9am on Sunday. | ||||
| Maryland | No* | Montgomery County is an alcohol beverage control county. With very few grandfathered in exceptions, alcohol may not be purchased at grocery stores or gas stations statewide. | ||||||
| Massachusetts | No | 8 a.m. – 2 a.m.* | 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.* | "Malt beverages" defined as ABW < 12% Sunday on- and off-premise sales start at noon | ||||
| Michigan | No | Yes | 7 a.m.* – 2 a.m. | No sale of alcoholic beverages after 2:00 a.m. and before noon on Sundays | ||||
| Minnesota | No | 8 a.m.-2 a.m. 7 Days | 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday | No alcohol sales on Sunday. Beer and wine coolers 3.2 ABW or less may be sold in grocery stores and gas stations. Growler sales allowed until 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday. | ||||
| Mississippi | No | No* | Yes | ABV > 14% wine and sparkling wine sold in state stores | ||||
| Missouri | No | |||||||
| Montana | No | No* | Yes | ABV > 16% wine sold in state stores | ||||
| Nebraska | No | 6 a.m. – 1 a.m.* | No on- or off-premises sales of liquor before noon on Sundays | |||||
| Nevada | No | 24 hours | 24 hours | There are few restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol in Nevada except for age. | ||||
| New Hampshire | No | Yes | 6 a.m. – 1 a.m. | 6 a.m. – 11:45 p.m. | Liquor sold only in State Liquor Stores | |||
| New Jersey | No | |||||||
| New Mexico | No | No alcohol sales before Noon on Sundays | ||||||
| New York | No | 8AM – 4AM, except prohibited 4AM – noon Sunday. Some counties have more restrictive hours. | Beer: Per state law, 24 hours/day except prohibited 3AM – 8AM Sunday. Wine & spirits: 9AM – midnight Mon – Sat, Noon – 9PM Sunday. Many counties have more restrictive hours, such as bans on beer sales overnight (hours vary). |
No sale of wine or spirits before noon on Sundays (on or off premises). Off-premises sale of wine and spirits is only at liquor stores, and beer is not sold at liquor stores. Some counties may retain the Sunday morning beer prohibition which the state discontinued as of 7/30/2006. | ||||
| North Carolina | No | Yes | 15% ABV cap on beer, No sale of alcoholic beverages from 2 a.m. until noon on Sundays | |||||
| North Dakota | No | |||||||
| Ohio | No | Yes | 12% ABV cap on beer. The Division of Liquor Control does not operate retail outlets; it appoints private businesses to act as it's agents and sell it's products in exchange for a commision. | |||||
| Oklahoma | No | 3.2% ABW or less in stores ABW > 3.2% only sold at room temperature in liquor stores | ||||||
| Oregon | No | Yes | 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. | Liquor sold only in State Liquor Stores | ||||
| Pennsylvania | No | Yes | State Liquor stores open from 11a.m. to 9p.m. mon-sat. and from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday | Wine and spirits can only be sold at State-operated stores, beer can be purchased at beverage outlets or restaurants with Liquor Control Board-issued licenses. Sunday sales were prohibited in LCB stores until 2003 (selected locations) and beverage outlets (owner's option) until 2005. | ||||
| Rhode Island | No | |||||||
| South Carolina | No | 5% ABW (6.25% ABV) cap on beer Wine > 16% ABV sold in liquor stores No liquor sales after 7 p.m. and none on Sundays. No alcohol sales after midnight Saturday until 7 a.m. Monday, except in Aiken, Greenville, Spartanburg, Myrtle Beach and Charleston. | ||||||
| South Dakota | No | 14% ABV cap on beer | ||||||
| Tennessee | No | 8 am to 11 pm mon-sat | ||||||
| Texas | No | 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | No alcohol cap but ABV > 15.5% requires additional license, so many places are beer/wine only. Wet/dry issues determined by city/county election. Liquor stores statewide closed all day Sunday. An alcoholic beverage served (on-premise) to a customer between 10 a.m. and noon on Sunday must be provided during the service of food to the customer. | ||||
| Utah | No* | Yes | ABV > 3.2% beer sold in state stores. No state store sales on Sundays. Most stores cease operations by 8 p.m. but hours vary. | |||||
| Vermont | No | No* | Yes | 8 a.m. – 2 a.m. | 6 a.m. – midnight | ABV > 16% wine sold in state stores | ||
| Virginia | No | No* | Yes | 6 a.m. – 2 a.m. | 6 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. | ABV >14% wine sold in state stores. State stores closed on Sundays, except in Northern Virginia, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. | ||
| Washington | No | Yes | 6 a.m. – 2 a.m.* | Beer and wine available in grocery stores and convenience stores every day (including holidays) from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Spirits for off-premise consumption are sold only in state-run or state-contracted liquor stores. Store hours vary by location, but no store is open before 9 a.m. and all stores must be closed by 10 p.m. Some stores are open Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Stores are not required by law to close on holidays, but seemingly all stores are closed on any federal holiday (whether or not to close on a holiday is at the discretion of the store manager) | ||||
| West Virginia | No | Yes | 6% ABV Cap on Beer. No Sunday liquor sales. No sale of 95% ABV spirits allowed in Morgantown or Huntington (and soon statewide). State does not operate retail stores; retains monopoly over wholesaling of distilled spirits only. | |||||
| Wisconsin | No | 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Wisconsin permits the consumption of alcohol by minors, provided they are being supervised by parents/guardians. | |||||
| Wyoming | No | Yes | ||||||
| District of Columbia | No | 8 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. Mon.-Thu., 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. Fri-Sat., 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. Sun. | 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. | No singles sold Certain wards may be made dry by the decision of the local ANC, but as of 2005 none are Last call may be as late as 2:30 a.m. Liquor stores must close on Sundays. Grocery stores, which are allowed to sell beer and wine only, can sell alcohol on Sundays. | ||||
| Puerto Rico | No | Minimum drinking age is 18. Dry law during elections and hurricane emergencies |
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