The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is enough to send anyone into a tizzy. From menu planning and grocery shopping to simply mentally preparing yourself to spend time with family, it’s a stressful time of year, and some things are bound to fall through the cracks. But what should you do if Thanksgiving Day rolls around and you realize stocking up on alcohol was one of those things that slipped your mind? Can you even buy alcohol on Thanksgiving?
In short, it all depends on what state you live in — each state’s alcohol beverage authority sets its own guidelines on when and where alcohol can be sold. And even then, we recommend calling to double-check before hopping in the car as some privately owned liquor stores may be closed, even in states where the sale of alcohol is permitted. It’s also important to keep in mind what type of alcohol you’re looking to grab as some states prohibit liquor sales, but allow for the sale of beer and wine.
Check out the chart below to see if you can buy alcohol in your state this Thanksgiving, and have a wonderful Turkey Day!
| State | Alcohol? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Some | You can purchase beer and wine on Thanksgiving, but no liquor. |
| Alaska | Yes | It’s going to be cold. |
| Arizona | Yes | |
| Arkansas | Yes | |
| California | Yes | |
| Colorado | Yes | |
| Connecticut | No | |
| Delaware | No | |
| District of Columbia | Some | Beer and wine are available for purchase, but spirits sales are prohibited. |
| Florida | Yes | |
| Georgia | Some | Package stores are open on Thanksgiving. Beer, wine, and spirits sales are legal on Thanksgiving statewide, though some counties forbid the sale of alcohol on Turkey Day. It’s best to call your local store ahead of time and see if they will be open. |
| Hawaii | Yes | |
| Idaho | Some | No liquor sales, however a county or city may, by ordinance, allow the sale of liquor on Thanksgiving. |
| Illinois | Yes | |
| Indiana | Yes | |
| Iowa | Yes | |
| Kansas | No | |
| Kentucky | Some | Privately owned retailers may be open. Some counties outlaw the sale of alcohol on Thanksgiving. |
| Louisiana | Some | Some parishes forbid the sale of alcohol on Thanksgiving. |
| Maine | Yes | So long as the retail space is no more than 5,000 square feet. |
| Maryland | Yes | |
| Massachusetts | No | While alcohol sales are prohibited on Thanksgiving, stores are able to remain open for an extra half-hour the Wednesday before. |
| Michigan | Yes | |
| Minnesota | No | |
| Mississippi | Some | Sales of wine and spirits are prohibited, though consumers can purchase beer. |
| Missouri | Yes | |
| Montana | Some | Beer and wine are available at supermarkets and convenience stores. Liquor sales are outlawed. 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 | Alcohol sales are legal on Thanksgiving in all counties except the town of Panaca, which is a dry municipality. |
| New Hampshire | Some | ABC Stores are closed on Thanksgiving, however, grocery stores may sell packaged beverages up to 6 percent alcohol. |
| New Jersey | Yes | In counties that are not dry, all alcohol sales are legal on Thanksgiving. |
| New Mexico | Yes | |
| New York | Yes | |
| North Carolina | Some | Liquor sales are banned. |
| North Dakota | No | |
| Ohio | Some | Liquor sales are outlawed. |
| Oklahoma | Some | Liquor sales are outlawed, though grocery stores and convenience stores are able to sell pre-packaged beer and wine. |
| Oregon | Yes | Some privately owned, non-state controlled liquor stores may be open on Thanksgiving. |
| Pennsylvania | Some | Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board-owned stores will be closed on Thanksgiving. |
| Rhode Island | No | |
| South Carolina | Yes | |
| South Dakota | Yes | |
| Tennessee | Some | Grocery stores may sell beer on Thanksgiving, but not wine. All retail liquor stores are closed. House Bill 371, proposed in 2021, seeks to open the sale of all alcohol on Thanksgiving, though it has yet to be signed into law. |
| Texas | Some | Retail liquor sales are prohibited, though grocery stores can sell pre-packaged beer and wine. |
| Utah | No | |
| Vermont | Yes | Privately owned liquor stores may choose to open. |
| Virginia | Some | All Virginia State ABC stores will be closed on Thanksgiving. Grocery stores may still sell beer and wine. |
| Washington | Yes | Privately owned liquor stores may open if proprietors choose. |
| West Virginia | Yes | |
| Wisconsin | Yes | |
| Wyoming | Yes |
