Can you buy alcohol on July 4th? A look at alcohol laws by state in the US
With the Fourth of July right around the corner, one thing is certain – plenty of Americans around all 50 states will be tossing one back, enjoying a holiday liquid lunch, or otherwise partaking in a myriad of beer, wine, and cocktails.
According to 2024 data from Capitol One Research, Americans spent approximately $4.02 billion on alcohol last year, most of it coming through beer sales.
You must be 21 and up to drink and purchase alcohol in all 50 U.S. states. But each state is different though with varying alcohol laws governing where, when, and how one can purchase and consume alcohol on Independence Day. With that in mind, here is a look at how one can responsibly sip on everything from a light beer to a Long Island Iced Tea.
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Check to see if your state sells alcohol on the July 4th:
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
Alabama
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, but according to an Alabama ABC Board website, all liquor stores will be closed except for Store 239, Orange Beach, and Store 240, Gulf Shores.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Grocery stores only sell wine with an alcohol content below 14% and beer with an alcohol content under 6%, states Alcohol Problems and Solutions.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
Alaska
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, according to Vinepair, people will be able to purchase alcohol.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? No, Alaska is one of the only states where no alcoholic beverages can be purchased from grocery stores, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 8 a.m. to 5 a.m., according to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
Arizona
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes. Liquor can also be served on election day, according to the Arizona Department of Liquor.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, you can purchase multiple kinds of alcohol and alcoholic drinks in Arizona's grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., according to Arizona Liquor Law.
Arkansas
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes. However, the sale of alcohol is prohibited on Sundays and Christmas Day, reports 5News.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, but grocery stores only sell wine and beer.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., according to Arkansas’ Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
California
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, but those planning on spending the day in Lake Tahoe may not be able to enjoy an ice-cold beer. The U.S. Forest Service has banned alcohol from areas around the lake.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, beer, wine and liquor can be purchased at grocery stores, according to American Addiction Centers' Alcohol.org.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., according to California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Colorado
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes. People can purchase alcohol on the Fourth of July. However, it is illegal to sell alcohol on Christmas, according to the state's liquor code.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, but only beer and wine are sold at grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., according to Colorado’s Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Division.
Connecticut
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, beer and wine.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Liquor stores have their set times to close. However, grocery stores like Stop & Shop stop selling liquor at 8 p.m. On Sundays, it is 6 p.m.
Delaware
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, the only holidays on which the sale of alcohol is prohibited are Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas, according to the state's laws. People are also not allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? No alcohol can be purchased at grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., according to Delaware law.
Florida
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, the Florida statutes do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, but only beer and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., according to Get Tips.
Georgia
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Georgia's rules and regulations do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, but only beer and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays, according to Georgia laws.
Hawaii
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Hawaii's liquor laws do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, liquor, beer, and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? According to Park Street Imports, hours can vary depending on the county, but in most cases, alcohol can be sold usually from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Idaho
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes. Idaho only prohibits the sale of alcohol on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, and any Sunday according to the state's laws.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, but only beer and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sundays, according to Idaho laws.
Illinois
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Illinois' liquor laws do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, liquor, beer, and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. seven days a week, according to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.
Indiana
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Indiana's rules and laws do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, liquor, beer, and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served Sunday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Iowa
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Iowa's liquor laws do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, liquor, beer, and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served Sunday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Kansas
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, according to the Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas' liquor laws only prohibit the sale of alcohol on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Sundays.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, but only beer is sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., but the sale of alcohol is prohibited on Sundays.
Kentucky
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, but Kentucky prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays, according to its Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, but only beer is sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served Monday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., but the sale is prohibited on Sundays.
Louisiana
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Louisiana liquor laws do not prohibit the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, although it is subject to individual town and Parrish regulations.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Depending on local regulations, alcohol can be served from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Maine
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, there are no restrictions in Maine laws regulating the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, liquor, beer, and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be served from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Maryland
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, there are no restrictions in Maine laws regulating the sale of alcohol on any holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? A small number of individual stores are grandfathered in under a 1978 law, but otherwise, all alcohol sales in Maryland are restricted to liquor stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol sales are limited to 8 a.m.-11 p.m. with certain specific county-based restrictions.
Massachusetts
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, beer, wine, and liquor can all be purchased at grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol sales are restricted from 8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Michigan
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, there are no restrictions on alcohol purchases for the July 4th holiday in Michigan.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, in Michigan, beer, wine, and liquor can all be purchased at grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol sales in Michigan are limited to 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Minnesota
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, there are no restrictions on alcohol purchases for the July 4th holiday in Minnesota.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? In the state, gas stations and convenience stores are only allowed to sell beer of 3.2% ABV or less. Elsewhere, there are no such regulations.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol sales are restricted to 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. in the state.
Mississippi
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Mississippi has no restrictions for alcohol purchases on July 4th.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? In convenience stores, only beer sales are allowed. All other purchases are restricted to liquor stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Sales in Mississippi can be made between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.
Missouri
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Missouri law permits alcohol sales on all federal holidays.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, there are no restrictions in Missouri on the sale of alcoholic beverages in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? In Missouri, alcohol can be sold between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.
Montana
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? In Montana, grocery stores are restricted to beer and wine sales.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Sales in Montana can be made between 8:30 a.m. and 2 a.m.
Nebraska
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, Nebraska has no restrictions on alcohol sales during the July 4th holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes. Beer, wine, and alcohol are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? In Nebraska, alcohol sales can be held from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Nevada
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, alcohol purchases are not restricted in Nevada during the July 4th holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? All forms of alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at grocery stores, convenience stores, and liquor stores around the state.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Nevada is the only state where alcohol can be purchased at any time of day.
New Hampshire
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? In New Hampshire, grocery stores are restricted to beer and wine sales.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcoholic beverages can be served from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
New Jersey
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, New Jersey has no restrictions for alcohol purchases on July 4th.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? New Jersey state laws limit the number of liquor licenses allotted to businesses, meaning sales are functionally limited to liquor stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be purchased in New Jersey from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
New Mexico
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, beer, wine, and liquor can be purchased at grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol in New Mexico can be purchased between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.
New York
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, there are no restrictions on alcohol sales in New York on July 4th.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Grocery and convenience stores can sell beer and "wine products," but all other sales are restricted to licensed liquor stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be sold 24 hours a day in grocery and convenience stores throughout New York but alcohol can't be served on-premises between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sundays, the New York State Liquor Authority says.
North Carolina
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Only beer and wine are available for purchase at grocery stores and convenience stores. All other sales are limited to liquor stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol sales are limited to 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.
North Dakota
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes. Beth Leintz, licensing administrator at the North Dakota Office of Attorney General, says the Fourth of July is "just like any other day," so liquor sales are permitted.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol sales can happen daily from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., according to North Dakota Attorney General's Office.
Ohio
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, no Ohio law restricts sales on the July 4 holiday.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, grocery stores can sell beer, wine, and low-proof drinks if properly permitted to do so.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? “Our OHLQ (Ohio Liquor) locations are also open, unless they request to close early, normal hours (9 a.m. – 11 p.m.). Simply put – overall, it’s business as usual in Ohio on July 4,” Brandon Klein, public information officer, Ohio Department of Commerce, said.
Oklahoma
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, stores like Northside Liquor will operate regular business hours on that day.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Liquor stores are open 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, according to the state of Oklahoma's website. But time varies depending on what convenience or grocery store where you buy alcohol from. For example, grocery stores like Crest Foods are open 24 hours a day and stop selling liquor at 2 a.m.
Oregon
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, beer and wine.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Hours can vary. "(Liquor) Stores must be open between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., but cannot open before 7 a.m. or close later than 10 p.m. Liquor store operators have the option of being open on Sundays and legal holidays with hours of operation varying from store to store," according to the State of Oregon's website,
Pennsylvania
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Grocery stores and convenience stores set their own hours to sell alcohol, Shawn Kelly, press secretary of the Liquor Control Board of Pennsylvania, said.
Rhode Island
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? No, except for the city of Newport in restricted circumstances in the RIGL 3-7-3, Don DeFedele, Associate Director/Chief Securities Examiner at the Department of Business Regulation in the State of Rhode Island, said.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? "Alcohol sales are allowed Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in retail establishments that have a license to sell liquor.", according to Alcohol.org.
South Carolina
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? “Grocery stores can sell beer and wine only,” Tim Smith, Public Information Officer for the South Carolina Department of Revenue said. “Alcohol, meaning liquor, is only able to be sold in a Retail Liquor Store licensees and authorized to sell.”
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? “Retail liquor store licensees in South Carolina can only be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Off-premises beer and wine permit holders can make to-go sales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Smith said. "On-premises beer & wine permit holders cannot make on-premises sales between 2-10 a.m. on Sundays.”
South Dakota
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? "Yes. State law permits grocery stores to obtain licenses to sell any type of alcohol for off-premises consumption,” Kendra Baucom, marketing and communications, South Dakota Department of Revenue said.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? “State law permits alcohol to be sold, served, or consumed any day between 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Municipalities and counties are permitted to have more restricted ordinances.” Baucom said.
Tennessee
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes. In 2018, selling wine and liquor in Tennessee on the holiday became legal, according to reporting by The Tennessean, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, but only beer and wine are sold in grocery stores.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? According to the Tennessee State Government's website, alcohol can be sold Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Texas
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes. “Texas law allows for retail alcohol sales on July 4 – there are no restrictions for sales on that date,” Chris Porter, Director of Communications/Executive Division at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, said.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? “Yes, Texas grocery stores can obtain a permit to sell wine and malt beverage products with an alcohol content up to 17% ABV,” Porter said.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? According to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Texas law states that you can buy alcohol from grocery and convenience stores from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. (Sunday morning)and then on Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight. Hours for liquor stores are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Utah
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? “Yes, but not in state liquor stores,” Michelle Schmitt, Communications Director at Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, said. ‘All state liquor stores are open during their regular business hours on July 3 and are closed on the Fourth of July.”
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? "Yes, but wine is not permitted for sale in grocery and convenience stores,” Schmitt said.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? “State liquor stores are open from 11 a.m. until either 7 p.m. or 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday,” Schmitt said. “The stores are closed on Sundays and on state and national holidays.”
Vermont
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, but liquor stores like Discount Beverage and Redemption Center will change their hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. for bars and 6 a.m. to midnight for retailers, according to the Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery.
Virginia
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? “Yes. Our stores will open at their normal time and close at 6 p.m. on Independence Day,” said Pat Kane, Public Relations Specialist at the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? “Per Code of Virginia 3VAC5-50-30, licensed retailers can sell beer and wine between 6 a.m. and midnight,” Kane said. “Customers will need to confirm the hours of operation with those retailers.”
Washington
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Alcohol can be sold in the state from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., according to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Julie Graham with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board told USA TODAY that there are no liquor laws that have a restriction on alcoholic purchases on the Fourth of July.
West Virginia
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? “Yes, at both off-premises businesses and on-premises businesses,” Gig Robinson, Public Information Specialist at the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, said.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? “There are 182 retail liquor outlets in WV, and some are grocery stores and other types of mixed licenses,” Robinson said. “For example, drug stores, while other retail liquor outlets are free standing. Grocery stores and other types of off-premises licenses may sell beer and wine.”
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Robinson explained that liquor stores are open from 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week.
Wisconsin
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? Yes, stores like Spirit Seller Liquors will be open.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? Yes, grocery stores like Quality Foods sell alcohol.
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? Wisconsin state law allows the sale of alcohol from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. in most cases, according to reporting by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Wyoming
Can you buy alcohol from stores on the Fourth of July? “Yes, there is no law requiring liquor stores to be closed on holidays in Wyoming,” Thomas Montoya, an Administrator at the Wyoming Department of Revenue Liquor Division, said.
Can you buy alcoholic beverages in grocery stores? "It depends,” Montoya said. "If they hold a retail liquor license then they can sell spirits, wines and malt beverages. If they are a county located grocery store and hold a County Malt Beverage Permit, then they are restricted to malt beverages only.”
What hours can alcohol be sold or served? “There is no state statute governing the hours of operation.,” he said. “This is done on the local level through municipal ordinances and county resolutions. Almost all jurisdictions in Wyoming have operating hours of 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. the following morning."
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at MHauptman@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buying alcohol on July 4th: State-by-state guide to alcohol laws
