There are one of two roles you can take on during Thanksgiving: The guest or the host. But whether you're planning the Thanksgiving menu or simply there for the ride, there's no doubt that having a festive drink in hand makes the evening more enjoyable! Think Thanksgiving cocktails with appetizers or a cozy bottle of red wine to pair with the turkey—or all of the above. (It is the holidays!)
If you're traveling and wondering whether liquor stores are open on Thanksgiving, keep in mind that alcohol laws vary widely by state. Some states allow liquor stores to operate, while others don’t. To make matters more complicated, rules about which stores can sell beer, wine, or spirits differ too. While many grocery stores keep their doors open on Thanksgiving, in some states, alcohol sales are limited to beer or wine or entirely prohibited.
To avoid any headaches on the big day itself, find out which states allow the sale of beer, wine, and liquor on Thanksgiving as well as those that don't. Of course, the safest bet is to shop beforehand to avoid these issues. But if you do need one more bottle, read on for what you need to know.
Which states sell alcohol on Thanksgiving?
You probably already know that liquor laws vary on a state-by-state basis. Some states have state-operated liquor stores, while others are more lenient with alcohol sales. Some only allow beer to be sold in supermarkets, while others don't restrict the type of alcohol they can sell.
Here, you'll find the places where liquor stores should be open on Thanksgiving Day—but of course, it could vary depending on the store or county you live in. For the most accurate information though, you can always contact your state's alcohol control board directly or call the particular store you want to shop from in advance.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky (Some counties restrict liquor sales on Thanksgiving Day.)
- Louisiana (Some areas restrict liquor sales on Thanksgiving Day.)
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon (However, stores may decide to close.)
- Pennsylvania (State-operated liquor stores will be closed.)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Which states prohibit alcohol sales on Thanksgiving?
Here are the states where you'll find that liquor stores are normally closed on Thanksgiving Day. However, some of these states may allow you to purchase beer and wine—just no liquor. You may still want to check with your state's alcohol control board or the store you have in mind, as privately-owned stores may be open in some of these states.
- Alabama (Beer and wine may be purchased, but spirits won't be for sale.)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi (All spirits other than beer are banned on Thanksgiving.)
- Montana (No liquor sales.)
- New Hampshire (No liquor or wine may be purchased.)
- North Carolina (No liquor sales.)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (No liquor sales.)
- Oklahoma (No liquor sales.)
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Texas (No liquor sales.)
- Utah
- Virginia (No liquor sales.
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
AnnMarie Mattila is the Senior Editor for The Pioneer Woman, covering a wide range of topics from food and cooking to home, beauty, style, and more.
