A Canadian’s Guide to Bringing Alcohol Back Across the U.S. Border
Heading down to Seattle for a concert and unsure of what to do with your leftover six-pack? Catching a ballgame in Detroit and hoping to bring some microbrews home to celebrate? Want to return from your Napa Valley vineyard tour with a few bottle? Here’s our fool-proof guide to moving across the Canada-U.S. border with alcohol.
We’ve given you a detailed round-up of cross-border shopping regulations, but here’s a more detailed discussion of limits on bringing alcohol across the Canadian-American border.
- What You Can Bring Back within 24 hours
- Over 48 hours
- After 7 days
- Alcohol Taxes and Duties
- Shipping Alcohol to Yourself
- Hot Tips for Crossing the Border with Booze
Heading down to Seattle for a concert and unsure of what to do with your leftover six-pack? Catching a ballgame in Detroit and hoping to bring some microbrews home to celebrate? Want to return from your Napa Valley vineyard tour with a few bottle? Here’s our fool-proof guide to moving across the Canada-U.S. border with alcohol.
Under 24 Hours (aka same-day cross border shopping)
Sorry. No personal exemptions. You have to declare and pay duties and taxes for any alcohol that you bring back into Canada if you’re doing a trip of less than one day. If you could just pop across the border and buy a few bottles of wine, would the half of our population who live close enough to America to drive there in a few hours ever shop at their local liquor store? You can roll the dice and “forget” about a bottle in your luggage, but if you’re unlucky and you get searched you could be delayed, harassed, flagged, and/or charged the duties anyhow. It’s your call.
Note: Our experience is that if you are bringing alcohol back to Canada and you’ve been in the US less than 48 hours and you declare it, you may not have to pay duty, depending upon the person you get.
After 48 Hours
This is the ticket. After 48 hours, your personal exemption shoots up to goods valuing $800 and your “personal exemption” kicks in: you can bring back a two-four of beer (8.5 litres) or two bottles of wine (1.5 litres) or one bottle of liquor (1.14 litres) without paying taxes or duties. The personal exemption applies to everyone travelling in your vehicle who is above the legal drinking age in their province of residence, so if you can fit all of those bottles and all of your non-drinking friends in a minivan, load them up and camp out for a few days so that you can combine exemptions.
| Product | Metric | Imperial | Amount of containers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine | Up to1.5 litres of wine | Up to 53 fluid ounces | Two 750 ml bottles of wine |
| Alcoholic beverages | Up to 1.14 litres | Up to 40 fluid ounces | One large standard bottle of liquor |
| Beer or ale | Up to 8.5 litres | Up to 287 fluid ounces | Approximately 24 cans or bottles (355 ml each) of beer or ale. |
After 7 Days
Your alcohol can travel separately from you. The personal exemption does not change.
How Much You Have to Pay in Duties and Taxes on Alcohol
That of course doesn’t mean that you can’t bring alcohol back across the border on a same-day trip. In fact, you can bring up to 45 litres of alcohol at a time for personal use across the border at any time as long as you declare it and pay the duties and taxes. The duties are governed by the ever-changing, byzantine schedule of Canadian tariffs that cover trade with other countries. The taxes you pay depend on your province of entry – provincial or harmonized sales taxes will apply, the amount varying from province-to-province. Check out the chart below:
Canadian Provincial and Territorial Tax Rates
| Province | Total Sales Tax (%) | Province | Total Sales Tax (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 5 | Nunavut | 5 |
| British Columbia | 12 | Ontario | 13 |
| Manitoba | 13 | Prince Edward Island | 15 |
| New Brunswick | 15 | Quebec | 14.975 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 15 | Saskatchewan | 11 |
| Northwest Territories | 5 | Yukon | 5 |
| Nova Scotia | 15 |
Ontario’s liquor monopoly, the LCBO, has a series of helpful charts outlining the standard duty and taxes for importing alcohol to that province, and the rules more or less apply across the country. You must be legal drinking age, and you have to bring or ship the alcohol to your province of residence. The 45 litres can be any combination of wine, liquor or beer, and you have to produce receipts for your purchases.
In general, expect the cost of your beer and liquor to double and the price of your wine to increase by 60% once you’ve paid duties and taxes at the border. Because of the lower price of alcohol in America, that means an average case of 24 beer will basically reach the Canadian price for the same when you bring it across the border. Will you save money? No. But you can access a wide range of specialty items unavailable in Canada for modest extra costs. The tightly regulated alcohol markets in Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia make this an especially attractive proposition — the more freewheeling alcohol policies of the western provinces mean much greater diversity in liquor store offerings, so it’s best to check if your local stores offer the wine of your dreams before you plan that road trip.
Top Eight Brews Unavailable in Canada Worth Paying Duties For:
- Toppling Goliath Kentucky Brunch – Decorah, Iowa: “Barrel aged and crammed with coffee, none other will stand in it’s way. Sought out for being delicious, it is notoriously difficult to track down.”
- Russian River Pliny the Younger – Santa Rosa, California: “Pliny the Younger was Pliny the Elder’s nephew, in the case of this beer, the “Younger” is a triple IPA. Pliny the Younger is hopped three times more than our standard IPA, and is dry hopped four different times.”
- Hill Farmstead Ann – Greensboro, Vermont: “Ann is the wine barrel aged version of Anna (1902-?), our grandfather’s sister as well as the name of our Honey Saison. In her honor, we fill French Oak wine barrels with honey saison and allow the beer to mature in the presence of our resident microflora. After many months, a beautifully complex beer emerges–Anna becomes Ann. Naturally carbonated and dipped in beeswax, Ann displays the microflora of her landscape. This the ale that I dreamed to have shared with Anna.”
- Lost Abbey Cable Car – San Marcos, California: “Funky, Chardonnay grape, some woody tannins, lemony, some spice, stone fruits like green apple & apricots~dry finish. Medium bodied, smooth texture.”
- Three Floyds Zombie Dust – Munster, Indiana: “A medium bodied single hop pale ale showcasing Citra hop from the Yakima Valley, U.S.A.”
- Hill Farmstead Everett – Greensboro, Vermont: “Everett (1908-1939) was our grandfather’s brother; Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to him and his 13 siblings. In his honor, this Porter is crafted from American malted barley, English and German roasted malts, American hops, our ale yeast, and water from our well. It is unfiltered and naturally carbonated. Decadent in its depth, with a complex backbone of chocolate, coffee, and malty sweetness, this is the ale that I dream to have shared with Everett. 7.5% ALC/VOL 21º P Ingredients: Pale, Caramel, and Chocolate Malt, Roasted Barley, Columbus hops; Ale Yeast, and our Well Water.”
- AleSmith IPA – San Diego California: “A San Diego classic, AleSmith IPA showcases the versatility of American hops. Aromas of grapefruit and tangerine lead into an abundance of fresh pine and tropical fruit notes followed by a crisp, resinous bitterness. The complex hop profile is supported by a firm malt presence to create an incredibly flavorful and well-balanced IPA.”
- Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast – not American but much more widely available in the US than Canada: “An oatmeal stout with 25.0% oat-based ingredients and a nice touch of gourmet coffee. A beer that goes extremely well with breakfast. Ingredients: Water, malt (pils, oat, smoked, caramunich, brown, pale chocolate and chocolate), roasted barley, flaked oats, hops (centennial and cascade), ale yeast and gourmet coffee.”
Shipping Alcohol To Yourself
Your 45 litre personal limit for alcohol importation extends to shipping. You cannot send alcohol through the mail or through many courier services, but you can have a freight or brokerage service get you your special alcohol order (apparently the result of a law held over from prohibition). The LCBO offers this service in Ontario, and provincial liquor boards offer similar services in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec. Liquor corporation / board brokers exact a small fee, and you still have to pay all applicable duties and taxes, plus bureaucratic wrangling generally throws in a multi-month delay, but it might be less of a hassle to just let the pros import the scotch of your dreams.
Hot Tips
If it’s really important to you to grab a few exotic imperial stouts or hop-forward ales when you’re in Vermont, grab a few and declare them. Message boards and anecdotal evidence suggest that most border guards won’t bother waving you over to the wicket, and even if they do, they duty will likely be under $10. Put your alcohol where the guard can see it, in the left back seat with the window rolled down, and keep your receipts at hand – literally in your hand – and you should be okay.
With staffing shortages at busy border checkpoints causing guards to wave through many cross-border shoppers, now is as good a time as ever to bring a small collection of hard-to-find wines or beers, declare them, and head on home without paying an extra dime. For best results avoiding duties, remember our border crossing dos and don’ts and fit the profile: look sharp, speak confidently and politely, and tell the truth. This might also be one of the few situations where a busy crossing is the preferred choice: long lines means harried and tired agents who may not want to bother with your bottle of rare tequila. Do the math: is an extra fifteen minutes in line worth saving the potential duty charge?
Don’t forget to pool your exemptions: this won’t work with the kids on your family vacation, but taking advantage of the personal alcohol exemption of everyone in your car is a great way to maximize your duty-free limits. Make sure you distribute receipts evenly around the car, have each adult take responsibility for his or her share of the haul (keeping in mind the limits that kick in after 48 hours outside of Canada: two bottles of wine, a 40 of liquor, and a case of beer), and be sure to declare everything.
You can roll the dice and “forget” about a few bottles in your luggage, but if you’re unlucky and you get searched you could be delayed, harassed, flagged, and/or charged the duties anyhow. Border guards have the right to confiscate any alcohol that you do not declare or to charge you large penalties (anywhere from 20 to 85% of the cost of the goods you “forgot” about) on top of taxes and duties. Misrepresenting yourself at the border will almost certainly result in having your passport flagged and make thorough searches likely at future crossings.
Of course, there’s one other way to cross the border in possession of alcohol…
Don’t forget to check out our article on bringing tobacco across the border.
How do you bring back your booze?
Liquor Laws by State
| State | Alcoholic beverage control state | Alcohol sale hours | Grocery store sales | Age | Notes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer | Wine | Distilled spirits | On-premises | Off-premises | Beer | Wine | Distilled spirits | Purchasing | Consumption | ||
| Alabama | Yes | Prohibited between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Sundays in some counties. Private clubs, which require a membership fee and a membership card, have no day or time restrictions. | Yes | No | 21 | 21 No exceptions to the law | ABV > 14.9% wine sold in state stores Alcohol may be served 24 hours a day unless restricted by local ordinances. Twenty-six of Alabama’s 67 counties do not allow the sale of alcohol. Of the 26 “dry” counties, 23 have at least one “wet” city. Within those 23 counties there are 43 wet cities. 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. State retains monopoly over wholesaling of distilled spirits only. |
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| Alaska | No | 8 a.m.–5 a.m., except election days (liquor stores may not open until polls close) |
No (although many grocery stores have separate areas that sell all forms of alcoholic beverages and many bars sell packaged liquor as well) | 21 | 21 Exception: Underage drinking allowed for medical purposes, and on private non-alcohol selling premises with parental consent | Most communities have more restrictive laws, ranging from restrictions on operating hours to bans on sale and possession. | |||||
| Arizona | No | 6 a.m.–2 a.m. seven days a week—no election day nor holiday restrictions | Yes | 21 | 21 Exception: Underage drinking allowed for religious and medical purposes | Sales of any type of alcohol are legal at any store that has an off-premises liquor license, including but not limited to convenience stores and grocery stores. Bars may sell closed containers of alcohol for consumption off the premises. Drive-through liquor stores are allowed. A large percentage of the land area of Arizona is in Indian reservations, many of which have liquor laws considerably more restrictive than state law, up to and including total prohibition. Patrons may not purchase for on premises consumption more than 40 ounces of beer, 1 liter of wine or 4 ounces of distilled spirits at one time. DUI penalties are some of the most severe in the nation. A person convicted of a DUI (even first offense) must have an interlock installed in his car for one year. Arizona has an ‘Impaired to the Slightest Degree’ law that can convict a person even if his BAC is less than .08%. | |||||
| Arkansas | No | Sundays, Mondays between 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., or on any other days between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. The governing body of any city or town may fix later closing hours for the permitted premises of a hotel or restaurant which in no event shall be later than two (2) hours after midnight on Saturday night. | Yes | No | 21 | 21 No exceptions to the law | 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 through local option (usually for restaurants and private clubs). No sales on Christmas Day. |
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| California | No | 6 a.m.–2 a.m. | Yes | 21 | 21 Exception:A minor will not be penalized for consuming alcohol if discovered or reported through a medical emergency. | Beer, wine and liquor available at grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and warehouse clubs. No statewide holiday restrictions. Sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages higher than 60% ABV is illegal. City and county governments can set different sale hours. |
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| Colorado | No | 7 a.m.–2 a.m. | Beer, wine, and liquor: 8 a.m.–midnight 3.2 beer: 5 a.m.-midnight |
3.2 only* | No* | 21 | 21 Exception: Underage consumption allowed on private non-alcohol selling premises with parental consent, for religious, medical, and educational purposes, and on alcohol selling premises with parental consent. | Spirituous, vinous & malt liquor available in liquor stores and liquor-licensed drug stores only. Liquor stores closed on Christmas Day. Liquor stores and liquor-licensed drug stores may have only one location. A small number of grocery stores are licensed as drug stores and sell full strength beer, wine, and spirits. |
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| Connecticut | No | 9 a.m.–1 a.m. (Mon.–Thurs.) 9 a.m.–2 a.m. (Fri.–Sat.) 11 a.m.–1 a.m.(Sun.) |
8 a.m.–10 p.m. (Mon.–Sat.) 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. (Sun.) | Yes | No | 21 Exception:No explicit age if a present legal guardian is 21 or older | 21 Exception: Underage consumption is allowed on private non alcohol selling premises with parental consent, for medical and religious purposes, and on alcohol selling premises with parental consent. | Sunday on-premises sales subject to local ordinances Beer can be purchased at grocery/convenience stores. Spirits and wine can be purchased only at liquor stores. No off-premises alcohol sales on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Open container law applies only to drivers, not passengers. |
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| Delaware | No | 9 a.m.–1 a.m. | 9 a.m.–1 a.m. (Mon.–Sat.) noon–8 p.m. (Sun.) Municipalities with a population over 50,000 persons may impose stricter hours of sale by local ordinance. |
No | 21 | 21 Exception:A minor will not be penalized for if discovered consuming alcohol through a medical emergency. Underage drinking allowed on private non-alcohol selling premises with parental consent, for religious purposes. | For off-premises consumption, alcohol may be purchased only in a liquor store, taproom, or a brew pub that has an off-premises license. Unless accompanied by a parent or guardian over 21, no person under 21 may enter a liquor store or taproom for any reason, even for the intent of purchasing only tobacco or lottery tickets. No sales of alcohol by liquor stores or taprooms are permitted during designated holidays including Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas. | ||||
| District of Columbia | No | 8 a.m.–2 a.m. Sun.–Thu., 8 a.m.–3 a.m. Fri.–Sat. |
Liquor Stores: 9 a.m.–12 a.m. daily* Grocery Stores: 9 a.m.-12 a.m. daily |
Yes | No | 21 | 21 Exception:A minor will not be penalized for if discovered consuming alcohol through a medical emergency. | No singles sold, but stores in some areas may apply for an exemption. The day before a federal or district holiday, on-premises retailers may sell/serve from 8 a.m.-3 a.m. On New Yer’s Eve, on-premises retailers may sell/serve until 4 a.m. on Jan. 1. |
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| Florida | No | State law prohibits selling of alcohol between midnight and 7 a.m., unless the county chooses to change the operating hours later; such as for Sunday morning; Ormond Beach stays open until 7pm on Sundays. Miami-Dade County liquor stores may operate 24 hours a day. | Yes | No | 21 | 21 Exception:18 for educational purposes | Supermarkets and other licensed business establishments may sell beer, low-alcohol liquors, and wine. Liquor must be sold in dedicated liquor stores which may be in a separate part of a grocery or a drug store. | ||||
| Georgia | No | Hours of sale determined by local jurisdiction. No alcohol sales on Christmas Day. | Yes | No | 21 | 21 Exception: Underage drinking allowed on non-alcoholic premises with parental consent, and for religious and medical purposes. | Sunday off-premises sales from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. allowed only by local referendum. In general, one may not be drunk in public. Though there is no state law prohibiting drinking in public, most municipal corporations and political subdivisions limit the possession of open containers of alcohol to private property, with notable exceptions being Savannah and Roswell. |
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| Hawaii | No | Bars and restaurants stop serving alcohol at 2 a.m., but some hold a special ‘cabaret license’ that allows them to continue serving alcohol until 4 a.m. | 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Within Honolulu County 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Within Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties |
Yes | 21 | 21 Exception: Underage consumption allowed for religious purposes | |||||
| State | Alcoholic beverage control state | Alcohol sale hours | Grocery Store Sales | Age | Notes | ||||||
| Beer | Wine | Distilled spirits | On-premises | Off-premises | Beer | Wine | Distilled Spirits | Purchasing | Consumption | ||
| Idaho | No | Yes | 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. in some counties | Yes | No | Alcoholic beverages exceeding 16% ABV can only be sold in Idaho State Liquor Dispensary stores, or contracted stores. | |||||
| Illinois | No | Depending on local government; 24-hour bars are permitted in Cicero; a handful of 21- to 22-hour bars exist in Cook County, and the Metro East. In Rock Island County, many establishments sell alcohol 24 hours a day. | Yes | Opening/closing hours are up to the decision of counties or municipalities. | |||||||
| Indiana | No | 7 a.m.–3 a.m. | 7 a.m.–3 a.m. No sale on Sunday, except at local wineries, breweries, and distilleries. | Yes | Sales limited to on-premises in restaurants, wineries, breweries, and distilleries on Sundays. However, carryout wine, beer and spirits may be purchased on Sundays from the address for which a winery, brewery or distillery’s permit is issued. No sales on Christmas Day. Minors, including babies, are not allowed to enter a liquor store. Indiana prohibits the sales of cold beer by grocery stores or gas stations, but allows cold beer to be sold from liquor stores. In 2010, Indiana enacted a stringent photo identification requirement for all off-premises transactions that initially required stores to verify the age of anyone purchasing alcohol by requiring him or her to produce a government-issued photo ID. |
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| Iowa | No | Yes | 6 a.m.–2 a.m. Mon–Sat 8 a.m.–2 a.m. Sun |
Yes | If a controlled substance is detected in a person’s system at or near the time they were operating a motor vehicle, they can be charged and potentially convicted of operating while intoxicated (OWI) even if they were not “impaired” by that substance. | ||||||
| Kansas | No | 9 a.m. – 2 a.m. (in counties which allow on-premises sales) | 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. (Mon–Sat) (in counties which allow off-premises sales) noon – 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. (Sun) (in communities which allow Sunday off-premises sales) |
3.2 only | No | 29 counties still not permit the on-premises sale of alcohol. 59 counties require a business to receive at least 30% of revenue from food sales to allow on-premises sale of alcohol. Only 17 counties allow general on-premises sales. Not all communities which allow off-premises sales allow sales on Sunday. Sales are prohibited on Christmas and Easter. The only alcoholic beverage which grocery stores and gas stations may sell is beer with no more than 3.2% alcohol by weight. Other liquor sales only are allowed at state-licensed retail liquor stores. Kansas has comprehensive open container laws for public places and vehicles, public intoxication laws, and requirements for prospective on-premises or off-premises licensees. | |||||
| Kentucky | No | 6 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Monday through Saturday | 1 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Sundays | Yes | No | Local ordinance may vote to permit Sunday sales at restaurants. Sales 2–4 a.m. only in Louisville. Sunday sales are allowed per state law, but may still be prohibited in some areas by local ordinance. Alcohol sale restriction and wet/dry (both by drink and package) allowed by both county and city local option. Approximately 39 counties in the state (mostly eastern and southern counties) are dry, all alcohol sale and possession prohibited; 22 “moist” counties (with “wet” cities allowing package liquor sales in counties otherwise dry); 29 counties that are otherwise dry but have communities with local option that allow sales of liquor by the drink or under special exemptions allowing sales at wineries. Majority of wet counties are around major metropolitan areas (Louisville, Lexington, Covington, Bowling Green). Note: Beginning in 2013 Liquor by the drink and beer by the drink are available on Sundays in Louisville, KY beginning at 10:00 am. Bowling Green, KY recently began allowing Sunday sales in December 2013 for carry-out beer, wine, and liquor. |
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| Louisiana | No | No state imposed restrictions on on-premises hours. “24 hour” bars are common in New Orleans and in Jefferson Parish. Some municipalities and parishes (including Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish) require on-premises service to stop at 2:00 am. | No statewide restrictions on hours of package sales. | Yes | Packaged alcoholic beverages of any strength may be sold in supermarkets, drug stores, gas stations, and convenience stores. Local municipalities may not restrict this. As a result, dedicated “liquor stores” are mostly specialty stores in larger cities, and some supermarkets have large selections of liquors and wines, and compete on the basis of liquor prices and selection. Alcohol can be consumed in the streets of New Orleans as long as it is in an “unbreakable container” (no glass) and may be taken from club to club if both establishments allow it. Most parishes other than Orleans Parish do not permit alcoholic beverages served on premises to be carried out. However, many parishes and municipalities permit consumption of packaged beverages (for example, cans of beer) on the street. Glass bottles on the streets are prohibited. One can enter most bars at 18 years of age but must be 21 years old to purchase or consume alcohol. Also, it is legal in the state of Louisiana for a legal parent or guardian to purchase alcoholic beverages for their under-age child. Drive-thru frozen daiquiri stands are legal and common, but the police can arrest you for driving with an open container, if you have put the straw in the cup. |
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| Maine | No | Yes | 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. (Mon–Sat) 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. (Sun) |
Yes | 21 | 21 | Alcohol may not be purchased after 1 a.m. any day of the week, may not be purchased prior to 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and not prior to 9 a.m. on Sunday. Bars and restaurants may serve until 1:15 a.m. 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. Wholesaling through state-licensed monopoly. Municipalities may prohibit the sale of alcohol by referendum; 56 towns have done so. | ||||
| Maryland | Variable by locality | Variable by locality | Variable by locality | Variable by locality | Baltimore County prohibits the sale on Sunday in some areas. In the counties of Montgomery, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester sale of alcoholic beverages are controlled directly by the county Liquor Control Boards, there are exceptions in Montgomery where some liquors are still sold in grocery store due to being grandfathered before the change of the law. Garrett County prohibits the sale on Sunday except in some areas. The sale of alcohol at grocery and convenience stores varies by county. There are no dry counties, but some individual voting districts within counties restrict or prohibit alcohol on a local-option basis. |
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| Massachusetts | No | 8:00 a.m.–2:00 a.m. by state law, although individual cities and towns may prohibit sales before 11:00 a.m. and after 11:00 p.m. Not before 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. | 8:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m., or 8:00 a.m.–11:30 p.m. on the day before a holiday. Not before 10:00 am on Sunday. | Yes. | 21 | 21 | As of 2012-10-29, a Massachusetts driver’s license, Massachusetts Liquor ID card, RMV-issued Massachusetts non-driver ID card, passport (issued by the US or a US-recognized foreign entity), US-issued Passport Card, and military identification card are the only acceptable proofs of age under state law. Out of state or Canadian driver’s licenses/ ID’s and other forms of identification do not grant the establishment legal protection if accepted as proof of age (and many establishments will not accept out of state licenses for this reason). On-premises regulations: No discounts at specific times (i.e. no “Happy Hour” discounts) or for specific individuals, no fixed-price open bar or all-you-can-drink (except at private functions), no more than two drinks per individual at any one time, no pitchers for fewer than two people, no drinking contests, no drinks as prizes, no free drinks. Off-premises sale of alcohol is prohibited on the last Monday in May (Memorial Day), Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas if Christmas falls on a Sunday. Sale of alcohol is prohibited during polling hours on election days (subject to local exceptions). |
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| State | Alcoholic beverage control state | Alcohol sale hours | Grocery Store Sales | Age | Notes | ||||||
| Beer | Wine | Distilled spirits | On-premises | Off-premises | Beer | Wine | Distilled Spirits | Purchasing | Consumption | ||
| Michigan | No | Yes | 7 a.m.–2 a.m. (Mon-Sat) noon-2 a.m. (Sunday)*sales may begin at 7 a.m. with special license extension |
7 a.m.-2 a.m. (Mon-Sat) noon-2 a.m. (Sunday)*sales may begin at 7 a.m. with special license extension |
Yes | The Michigan Liquor Control Commission allows the sale of alcoholic beverages until 11:59 p.m. on December 24 and after 12:00 p.m. on December 25. On-premises sales are permitted on January 1 until 4:00 a.m. Local or county ordinance may restrict Sunday or Sunday morning sales. State maintains a monopoly over wholesaling of distilled spirits only. | |||||
| Minnesota | No | 8 a.m.–2 a.m. 7 Days | 8 a.m.–10p.m. (Mon–Sat) No sale on Sunday, except at local breweries. | 3.2% Only | No | Local or County ordinance prevails for hours of operation for off-sale licenses. No alcohol sales are allowed from off-sale package stores on Sunday. Monday–Saturday. Certain municipalities may establish municipal liquor stores; they are permitted, but not required, to exclude privately owned stores. | |||||
| Mississippi | No | Yes | Local authorities fix hours of alcohol sale | Yes | No | ABW > 5% wine and sparkling wine sold in state-contracted stores which are open from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm (Closed Sundays) statewide. 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 sales on Christmas Day. No state open container laws. Free alcohol all day and night in coastal casinos. In most counties, alcohol cannot be sold on Sundays. There are many dry counties in which it is illegal to possess alcoholic beverages, though some cities within dry counties have voted in beer sales. |
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| Missouri | No | Most establishments: (Mon–Sat) 6:00am–1:30am (Sunday) 9:00am–12:00pm Special licenses in Kansas City and St. Louis: (Daily) 6:00am–3:00am |
(Mon–Sat) 6:00am–1:30am (Sunday) 9:00am–12:00am Sales permitted until 3:00 am in those Kansas City and St. Louis bars grandfathered into the ability to double as liquor stores. |
Yes |
Missouri law recognizes two types of alcoholic beverage: liquor, which is any beverage containing more than 0.5% alcohol except “non-intoxicating beer”; and “non-intoxicating beer,” which is beer containing between 0.5% and 3.2% alcohol. Liquor laws apply to all liquor, and special laws apply to “non-intoxicating beer.” |
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| Montana | No | Yes | Closing 2am | Yes | No | ABV > 16% wine sold in state-contracted stores, ABV < 16% may be sold in grocery stores. | |||||
| Nebraska | No | 6 a.m.–1 a.m. Legislation passed in 2010 allows for municipalities to extend on-premises sales to 2 a.m. with two-thirds approval of city or county councils. | Yes | No on- or off-premises sales of spirits before noon on Sundays. All beer, wine, and champagne can be sold starting at 6 a.m. | |||||||
| Nevada | No | 24 hours | Yes | State law also renders public intoxication legal, and explicitly prohibits any local or state law from making it a public offence. Alcohol purchase is only controlled in Panaca. | |||||||
| New Hampshire | No | Yes | 6 a.m.–1 a.m. | 6 a.m.–11:45 p.m. | Yes | No | Liquor sold in state-run stores, many found at highway rest areas. 14% ABV cap on beer. State is wholesaler of wine. |
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| New Jersey | No | Each municipality can control hours by local ordinance. Most municipalities have a last call of 2 or 3 a.m. Atlantic City, Brigantine, Absecon, Elwood, Pomona, Smithville, Galloway, and Mullica (All in Atlantic County) serve 24 hours. There are some dry towns in the southern part of the state, including Ocean City. | 9 a.m.-10 p.m. for liquor. Beer and wine can be sold at any time on-premise sales are permitted in that municipality. This causes most liquor stores to close at 10 PM, however some will stay open an hour later selling only beer and wine. Cities of the first class (e.g. Jersey City and Newark) are exempt from this law and may set their own hours for liquor sales. | Rarely | 21 | 21 (unless provided by parent or guardian in private) | Some dry communities in historically Methodist and Quaker communities in the southern part of the state. Though there is not a ban on selling alcoholic beverages at grocery stores, New Jersey limits each chain to two licenses, so with only a few exceptions, most supermarkets/convenience stores/gas stations/pharmacies do not sell alcoholic beverages. In addition, liquor sales are only permitted in a separate department or attached sister store. Bars are allowed to off-sale packaged goods. With the exception of Jersey City and Newark, all municipalities MUST allow off-sales of beer and wine at any time on-sales are permitted. However, since alcoholic beverages are generally only found in package stores, this right is rarely exercised. Alcoholic beverages by the drink as well as off-sales of beer and wine are permitted 24 hours a day in Atlantic City and Brigantine. |
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| New Mexico | No | 7 a.m.–2 a.m., except Sundays, for establishments with full dispenser license. 7 a.m.–11 p.m., except Sundays, for restaurants with beer and wine license. |
7 a.m.–12 midnight except Sundays | Yes | A Sunday permit allows sale (on or off premises) on Sundays from noon until midnight. Exceptions are the prohibition of alcohol sale on Christmas, regardless of the day it falls on, and a Sunday permit allowing of sale (on or off premises) until 2:00 a.m. January 1, if December 31 falls on a Sunday. Sunday permits are only available where approved by voters within a local option district. | ||||||
| State | Alcoholic beverage control state | Alcohol sale hours | Grocery Store Sales | Age | Notes | ||||||
| Beer | Wine | Distilled spirits | On-premises | Off-premises | Beer | Wine | Distilled Spirits | Purchasing | Consumption | ||
| New York | No | 8 a.m. – 4 a.m. (Mon – Sat) Noon – 4 a.m. (Sun) Some counties have more restrictive hours. |
Beer: 24 hours Wine & spirits: 8 a.m. – midnight (Mon–Sat) Noon – 9 p.m. (Sun). |
Yes | No | 21 | Off-premises sale of wine and spirits is only at liquor stores, and beer is not sold at liquor stores; it must be sold at supermarkets and convenience stores. Some counties may retain the Sunday morning beer prohibition which the state discontinued as of July 30, 2006. Twelve dry towns, mostly in western region of state. Many counties have more restrictive off-premises hours, such as bans on beer sales overnight (hours vary). New York City law does not allow open containers of alcohol in public. |
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| North Carolina | No | Yes | 7 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Mon – Sat) Noon – 2 a.m. (Sun) |
Beer and wine: 7 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Mon – Sat) Noon – 2 a.m. (Sun) Liquor: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Mon – Sat) |
Yes | No | 21 | No “happy hour,” “buy one get one free,” or “ladies night” style specials allowed. | |||
| North Dakota | No | 8 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Mon – Sat) Noon – 2 a.m. (Sun) |
8 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Mon – Sat) Noon – 2 a.m. (Sun) |
No | 21 | No off-sale on Thanksgiving Day. No Christmas Day on-sale, nor sales on Christmas Eve after 6 p.m. | |||||
| Ohio | No | Yes | 5:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. | 5:30 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Yes, under 21% ABV | 21 | 21 or older, unrestricted under supervision of individual’s parent or legal guardian or legal age spouse | Some counties have more restrictive off-premises hours. The Division of Liquor Control does not operate retail outlets; it appoints private businesses to act as its agents and sell its products in exchange for a commission. Normal proof spirits (>21% ABV) are sold only in a limited number of agent stores. Many retail outlets sell diluted spirits (diluted by water to 21% ABV) under a more readily obtained permit. No intoxicating liquor shall be handled by any person under twenty-one years of age, except that a person eighteen years of age or older employed by a permit holder may handle or sell beer or intoxicating liquor in sealed containers in connection with wholesale or retail sales, and any person nineteen years of age or older employed by a permit holder may handle intoxicating liquor in open containers when acting in the capacity of a server in a hotel, restaurant, club, or night club. |
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| Oklahoma | No | 6 a.m. – 2 a.m. | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Mon – Sat) | 3.2% only | No | 21 | 4.0% ABV/3.2 ABW or higher only sold at room temperature in liquor stores, Liquor Stores closed on Sundays and some holidays. State law prohibits public intoxication, many counties and cities also prohibit public intoxication. | ||||
| Oregon | No | Yes | 7 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. | 7 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. | Yes | No | 21 | Liquor, all of which is state-owned prior to sale to consumers, is sold in private liquor stores. | |||
| Pennsylvania | No | Yes | Restaurants and bars: 7 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Mon – Sat) 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. (Sun) Clubs: 7 a.m. – 3 a.m. |
9 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Mon – Sat) Noon – 5 p.m. (Sun) |
No* | 21 | Wine and spirits can only be sold at state-operated stores. All persons must be at least 21 years of age to enter a state-operated liquor store alone. Beer is not sold at state-operated liquor stores. Beer can be purchased at beverage outlets (> 128oz), or restaurants (six-packs/192oz max. purchase (two six packs)) with Liquor Control Board–issued licenses, but not supermarkets. There are currently seven state liquor stores located within supermarkets. Starting in 2007, a number of groceries stores began selling beer within their supermarket cafe. Beer can only be purchased within the cafe; not at the general supermarket checkout, with a maximum of 192oz (two 16oz six packs.) Some gas stations have found a way to sell beer, such as Sheetz, by taking advantage of a loophole where they can classify themselves as restaurants, though this is rare throughout the state. Special permits may be purchased for certain organizations for fundraisers once per calendar year, and are valid for a total of six days under the same rules governing restaurants. |
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| Rhode Island | No | 9 am – 1 a.m. (Mon – Sat) Noon – 1 a.m. (Sun) |
9 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Mon – Sat) 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Sun) |
No | 21 | 21 | All alcohol may be sold only in liquor stores. Bars may stay open until 2 a.m. in Providence only on Friday and Saturday nights and nights before a state-recognized holiday. |
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| South Carolina | No | Yes | On-premises closing times are local option and are not set by the state. | Beer and low-alcohol wine: 24 hours Liquor: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Mon – Sat.) |
Yes | No | 21 | Wine > 16% ABV sold in liquor stores No hard liquor sales after 7 p.m. and none on Sundays. No off-premises alcohol sales after midnight Saturday until 7 a.m. Monday, except in Aiken, Greenville, Pendleton, Spartanburg, Horry County, Colleton County, Richland County, Charleston County/city, Beaufort County, York County, and Newberry County. |
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| South Dakota | No | Yes | 21 | ||||||||
| State | Alcoholic beverage control state | Alcohol sale hours | Grocery Stores | Age | Notes | ||||||
| Beer | Wine | Distilled spirits | On-premises | Off-premises | Wine | Beer | Distilled Spirits | Purchasing | Consumption | ||
| Tennessee | No | Mon-Sat: 8 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Sun: Noon to 3 a.m. Hours of alcohol sale can be modified by local jurisdictions if approved by the alcohol control commission. | Beer: By municipality. Wine & Spirits: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mon–Sat |
Yes | No | 21 | Wine may be sold in grocery stores. Sales of wine and liquor are limited to on-premises in restaurants on Sundays. Retail stores must be closed for business on Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, Labor Day, New Year’s Day, and the Fourth of July. Beer above 5% ABW / 6.3% ABV must be sold in liquor stores. Open container law only applies to drivers, not passengers. | ||||
| Texas | No | Monday-Friday: 7am-midnight Saturday: 7am-1am Sunday: Noon to 12 midnight. Some cities/counties permit sale until 2am (with license). |
Beer/Non-hard liquor: 7 a.m. to midnight (Mon.-Fri.) 7 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. (Sat.) Noon to midnight (Sun.) Hard Liquor: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Mon.-Sat.) |
Yes | No | 21 | ABV > 15.5% requires additional license, so many places are beer/wine only. Wet/dry determined by city/county election. Liquor stores statewide closed all day Sunday. An alcoholic beverage served (on-premises) to a customer between 10 a.m. and noon on Sunday may only be provided during the service of food to the customer. 11 Texas counties are completely dry. In many counties, public intoxication laws are vigorously upheld. While in the course and scope of employment as an employee of a licensee or permittee. |
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| Utah | Yes | Restaurants: Noon to midnight for liquor, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. for beer. Bars may serve liquor from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. | Varies by state liquor store hours | 3.2 only | No | 21 | ABV > 4.0+% sold in state-controlled stores only. State-controlled stores close on Sundays and cease operations no later than 10 p.m. the rest of the week. Restaurants must buy from the state-controlled store (no delivery) at retail prices. No alcohol is served in restaurants without purchase of food. Sales of kegs prohibited. Importation of alcohol into the state by private individuals generally prohibited. | ||||
| Vermont | No | Yes | 8 a.m.–2 a.m. | 6 a.m.–midnight | Yes | No | 21 | ABV > 16% beer and ABV > 16% wine are only available through state liquor stores (most of which are integrated within grocery and beverage stores). | |||
| Virginia | No | Yes | 6 a.m.–2 a.m. No restrictions at any time for club licensees. | 6 a.m.–11:59 p.m. except local Blue Law. | Yes | No | 21 | Licensed supermarkets, convenience stores, and gas stations may sell beer and wine. Off-premises sales no later than 12 midnight. Liquor stores are owned and operated by the Commonwealth and are generally open 10am-9pm Monday-Saturday and from 12pm-6pm on Sunday. | |||
| Washington | No | 6 a.m.–2 a.m. (A local government subdivision may establish later opening hours or earlier closing hours.) | Yes | 21 | Beer and wine are available in specialty stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, department stores, taverns, and other locations licensed by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Spirits are available in stores greater than 10,000 sq ft (grocery stores, big box liquor chains). | ||||||
| West Virginia | No | Yes | Beer/Wine: Mon-Sat:7 am-2 am, Sun:1 pm-2 am Liquor: Mon-Sun:8 am-Midnight, Sun: Prohibited |
Mon-Fri:7 am-3:30 am, Sat: 7A-3:00A, Sun:1 pm-3 am | Yes | 21 | Liquor, wine and beer products that are not already in closed packaging must be bagged before exiting retail locations. State no longer operates retail stores (formerly State ABC Stores); Number of privately owned stores restricted according to county or city population. All stores are state contracted; Bars and clubs must purchase liquor from state contracted private stores in person. | ||||
| Wisconsin | No | 6 a.m–2 a.m. Sunday–Thursday, 2:30 a.m. Friday–Saturday, no closing time on New Year’s Day. | 6 a.m.–12 midnight for beer (some counties and municipalities only allow sales until 9 p.m. for beer), 6 a.m.–9 p.m. for liquor and wine | By local ordinance | 21 | Wisconsin permits the consumption of alcohol by minors, provided they are being supervised by parents/guardians/spouses. Most municipalities have a uniform 9 p.m. restriction on all alcohol sales. Notable exceptions: Kenosha, Green Bay, La Crosse, Maple Bluff (near Madison), Baraboo (near the Dells). Supermarkets, liquor stores, and gas stations may sell liquor, wine, and beer. | |||||
| Wyoming | No | Yes | 6.00 a.m.–2.00 a.m. | No | 21 | Clubs holding liquor licenses may be exempt from the hours of operation here specified by local ordinance or regulation of the appropriate licensing authority, but it does not seem to happen in practice | |||||
