Whether you’re making a big batch of Eggnog or searching for a last-minute bottle of wine to give your holiday host, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in need of booze on Dec. 25. But are any stores actually going to be open?
In the United States, most liquor laws are written by individual states rather than at the federal level, meaning depending on where you live, there will be a plethora of differing regulations regarding when shops can sell alcohol. Blue laws, which restrict certain activities and business operations on Sundays and/or religious days, are still alive and well in many regions across the United States.
If your state doesn’t suffer from strict blue laws, you could still run into varying standards depending on the county and municipality. So even if it’s legal to sell alcohol on Christmas in your home state, we always recommend calling ahead to double check the shop is open before heading over.
Check out the chart below to see if you can buy alcohol in your state this Christmas and have a happy holiday!
| State | Alcohol? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Some | State-owned liquor stores are closed on Christmas day, but privately-owned shops may choose to open. |
| Alaska | Yes | |
| Arizona | Yes | |
| Arkansas | No | |
| California | Yes | |
| Colorado | No | |
| Connecticut | No | |
| Delaware | No | |
| Florida | Some | Some counties permit the sale of alcohol on Christmas day. |
| Georgia | No | |
| Hawaii | Yes | |
| Idaho | No | |
| Illinois | Yes | |
| Indiana | Yes | |
| Iowa | Yes | State-owned liquor stores are closed. |
| Kansas | No | |
| Kentucky | Some | Some counties ban the sale of alcohol on Christmas. |
| Louisiana | Some | Some parishes forbid the sale of alcohol. |
| Maine | Yes | |
| Maryland | Some | While Maryland is not a control state, some counties are control counties and outlaw the sale of alcohol on Christmas Day. |
| Massachusetts | No | |
| Michigan | Yes | |
| Minnesota | No | |
| Mississippi | No | |
| Missouri | Yes | |
| Montana | Some | State-owned liquor stores will be closed and sales at privately-owned stores are restricted to beer and wine. However, proposed House Bill 867, which has yet to be signed into law, proposes that liquor stores be open on Sundays and Holidays. |
| Nebraska | Yes | |
| Nevada | Yes | |
| New Hampshire | No | |
| New Jersey | Yes | |
| New Mexico | Yes | |
| New York | Yes | |
| North Carolina | Some | Liquor stores are closed; grocery stores are permitted to sell beer and wine. |
| North Dakota | No | |
| Ohio | No | |
| Oklahoma | No | |
| Oregon | Yes | State law provides that liquor stores are permitted to open, though many may choose to close. |
| Pennsylvania | Some | State-run liquor stores are closed, grocery stores are permitted to sell wine and beer (if they are open). |
| Rhode Island | No | |
| South Carolina | No | |
| South Dakota | Some | According to South Dakota law 35-4-81, any municipality or county may, by ordinance, prohibit or restrict the sale of alcohol on Christmas Day. |
| Tennessee | No | |
| Texas | Some | Liquor stores will be closed but grocery stores are permitted to sell wine and beer. |
| Utah | No | |
| Vermont | Yes | |
| Virginia | Some | All Virginia State ABC stores will be closed on Christmas day. |
| Washington | Yes | Privately-owned liquor stores are able to open. |
| West Virginia | Some | State-run liquor stores are closed on Christmas, beer and wine are available at grocery and convenience stores. |
| Wisconsin | Yes | State-controlled liquor stores will be closed. |
| Wyoming | Yes |
