Can You Buy Alcohol on Christmas? If So, Where?

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Christmas is the most wonderful time to enjoy with your close friends. For more fun, people use alcohol and wine during this time. Since wine and alcohol are hard to find on Christmas, people asked whether they could buy them.

It depends on where you live. This is because in some countries, alcohol, and wine are prohibited on Christmas day, but it is legal in others.

No problem if you still need clarification. I have shared all the facts and queries related to buying alcohol on Christmas. Surely, at the end of this article, you will be able to figure out whether you can buy it in your country.

Can You Buy Alcohol On Christmas Day?

Buying alcohol on Christmas day depends on the state you are living in. The reason is that in some countries, it is illegal to buy alcohol or wine on Christmas day.

But in some countries, it is legal to buy alcohol on Christmas day. So, you need to know the alcohol buying law of your country on Christmas day.

Below I have shared a chart in which you can see your country and its law about alcohol on Christmas day:

Countries In Which Alcohol Is Banned On Christmas

According to the report of Michaell Minton of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, there are 24 states where Christmas day alcohol bans are still in place.

I have stated these countries’ fines below:

1. Arkansas

State law states that it is illegal to sell intoxicating liquors on Christmas Day. Non-compliance is a Class B Misdemeanor that can lead to a 90-day sentence behind bars and/or a $1,000 penalty. This blanket ban applies to bars, liquor stores, and grocery stores where customers can buy beer or wine.

2. Colorado

Colorado will allow you to buy alcohol in bars and restaurants. However, you cannot purchase any type of alcohol from establishments that have “off-premise liquor licenses”, which are liquor stores, grocery shops, and drugstores.

3. Connecticut

You can only get alcohol at licensed bars or restaurants on Christmas Day as well as New Year’s Day. The sale of alcohol in retail stores is strictly prohibited. This applies to grocery stores as well, which can sell beer throughout the year (but not wine).

4. Georgia

Georgia allows each municipality to decide whether to prohibit alcohol sales at Christmas. Alcohol sales are strictly prohibited in places such as the City of Athens or Halle County.

5. Idaho

Idaho has state-run liquor shops. Prohibits retail liquor sales during Christmas Day and Thanksgiving. You can still purchase beer and wine from the grocery store or hard liquor at bars.

6. Kansas

Kansas prohibits the sale of most alcoholic beverages at retail. This is true for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Even if it isn’t one of these holidays, liquor stores are the only ones allowed to sell most packaged alcohol.

7. Massachusetts

Massachusetts prohibits retail liquor sales during Christmas and Thanksgiving. This is one of many state-imposed restrictions on alcohol sales. The state prohibits bars offering happy hours or any other alcohol-based promotions.

8. Minnesota

The retail sale of “intoxicating liquor,” which is anything with an alcohol weight (ABW), greater than 3.2 percent, is prohibited starting at 8 p.m. Christmas Eve through Christmas Day.

9. Mississippi

Mississippi’s retail sales of alcoholic beverages with an ABW greater than 5 percent are prohibited from being sold in designated “package shops,” which are required to close on Christmas.

10. New Hampshire

New Hampshire doesn’t outright ban liquor sales on Christmas. The state government manages the liquor and wine stores, which are closed during Christmas.

11. In New Mexico

On Christmas, retail alcohol sales are outlawed

12. New York

Retailers who sell liquor and wine must be closed on Christmas. This doesn’t apply to beer purchased at convenience and grocery stores.

13. North Carolina

The state-run liquor shops in North Carolina are closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Wine and beer can still be purchased at grocery stores.

14. North Dakota

North Dakota prohibits any retail sale of alcohol beginning at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve through Christmas Day.

15. Ohio

Ohio’s Division of Liquor Control manages all state liquor stores. The CEI report states that DLC stores close on Christmas.

16. Oklahoma

Retail liquor sales are prohibited on Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Memorial Day. A new law that came into effect on October 1 allows grocery stores to sell beer and wine all year.

17. Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board regulates Pennsylvania’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits shops. They are closed on Christmas Day.

18. South Carolina

Christmas is not a day for retail sales of “alcoholic liquors”. This law includes hard liquor, beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.

19. South Dakota

South Dakota bans retail liquor sales on Christmas Day.

20. Tennessee

Retailers cannot sell alcohol or wine on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

21. Texas

All liquor sales are prohibited by the law on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. If Christmas or New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday, the ban will be extended to Monday.

22. Utah

The only place you can purchase alcohol above 3.2 percent ABW is state-run shops, which are shut on Christmas. The CEI report points out that you may circumvent this problem by visiting one of Utah’s breweries or wineries. 

These licenses allow them to sell their products at any time they wish.

23. Virginia

The state-run liquor shops in Virginia are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

24. West Virginia

West Virginia law prohibits retail liquor sales on Christmas Day.

Why are all these laws still in effect? 

Minton says that the “bootlegger–Baptist” phenomenon, as named by Bruce Yandle, is still in force.

Baptists don’t want people to drink, and bootleggers won’t want to compete against legal alcohol purveyors. Minton states that although they may not like one another and don’t want the same outcome, they support the same policy goals for different reasons.

No one is willing to make the effort necessary to change the world. This is why you may have difficulty buying alcohol at Christmas.

Minton states, “It takes very long and a great deal of effort and a lot of money, usually to get any kind of measure.” “It seems that not many people will be willing to sacrifice their lives for something as simple as a holiday alcohol ban.”

Is it possible to buy alcohol in Michigan on Christmas?

No. Michigan law makes it illegal to sell or buy alcohol during Christmas. The state law says:

“Do not sell alcoholic beverages between 11.59 (midnight) on Christmas Eve and 12:01 (noon on Christmas Day).”

The Michigan Liquor Control Code (and administrative rules) sets different legal hours for alcohol sales on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve than the rest of the year.

Is it possible to buy alcohol in Indiana on Christmas?

In Indiana, there has been a gradual reversal of the lingering Prohibition-era alcohol prohibitions. The 2012 election saw the lifting of the prohibition on liquor sales. This was only the beginning.

Christmas Day followed. Then came Sundays. You need to know this when it comes to buying alcohol in Indiana on Christmas Day.

Indiana allows you to buy alcohol on Christmas if you’re 21 or older. Remember that many bars, restaurants, and liquor stores are closed on Christmas Day.

If they are open, the hours for sales are from 7 a.m. until 3 a.m. Indiana law allows sales to be made on Sundays if Christmas falls on a Sunday.

Is it possible to buy alcohol in Rhode Island on Christmas?

You can’t purchase alcohol in Rhode Island on Christmas. The State law says:

Retail Class A licensees are not allowed to sell alcohol at retail establishments on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.

Can you buy alcohol on Christmas in Australia?

Patrons may purchase alcohol on the premises and a meal for one hour before, during, and after their meal.

You can apply for an extension of trading hours under section 19 of 1994’s Wine Industry Act to allow the wine to be sold on Christmas Day.

FAQ

Is alcohol allowed to be sold in Ireland on Christmas Day?

It will be illegal for anyone to sell, expose or make available for sale any intoxicating liquor.

Does Arkansas sell liquor on Christmas?

It is a well-known fact that Arkansas bans Sunday alcohol sales. It will take planning to raise your glass in Arkansas for a Christmas Day toast.

Is it illegal to sell Alcohol On Christmas In Colorado?

Colorado does not allow the sale of liquor in stores on Christmas.

Can you buy alcohol on Christmas in North Dakota?

Groceries, gas stations, and supermarkets can carry all types of liquor. However, the liquor must be rung up in an enclosed storage area.

You may not sell alcohol on Thanksgiving Day (after 2 AM), Christmas Eve (6 PM), or Christmas Day (All Day).

Can you sell alcohol on Christmas Day in Tennessee?

Alcoholic beverages cannot be sold on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. Businesses are not allowed to give out free drinks.

Final Words

The whole article concluded that buying alcohol on Christmas day depends on the state you live in. The reason behind this is that in some countries, it is illegal to buy alcohol or wine on Christmas day.

After seeing the above lists, charts, and queries, hopefully, now you should know whether you can buy alcohol in your country on Christmas.