Sunday Alcohol Sales: Home Gar's Unique Law

Alcohol sales laws in the United States vary by state and even by county and local jurisdiction. For example, in Georgia, while alcohol sales are allowed on Sundays between 12:30 pm and 11:30 pm, there are still some counties that restrict Sunday sales. In Texas, liquor stores are closed on Sundays, while in Tennessee, alcohol sales are allowed from 10 am on Sundays. This text will explore the laws surrounding Sunday alcohol sales in different states and provide insight into the complexities of alcohol regulation in the US.

Alcohol sales in Georgia on Sundays

In Georgia, the sale of alcohol on Sundays is allowed between 12:30 pm and 11:30 pm, provided the local government does not disapprove. However, there are some counties in Georgia that do not permit the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays at all, as they are considered "dry counties". These include Coweta, Dodge, Franklin, Decatur, and Murray.

The laws regarding alcohol sales in Georgia vary by jurisdiction. While state law sets the earliest and latest sales times, individual counties and cities can further restrict these hours. For example, some cities have enacted a "brunch law" or "brunch bill", allowing alcohol service in bars and restaurants to begin at 11 am on Sundays.

On days other than Sundays, bars and restaurants in Georgia can start selling alcohol as early as 9 am and must stop by 2 am. Grocery stores, liquor stores, and other places selling alcohol for off-premises consumption can sell from 8 am to 11:45 pm. Gas stations, grocery stores, liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms are restricted to selling alcohol between 12:30 pm and 11:30 pm on Sundays.

During the pandemic, the state government made some changes to alcohol policies to support struggling restaurants. On May 5, 2021, a bill was signed into law, allowing restaurants to permanently sell cocktails to-go. This law stipulates that restaurants can sell a maximum of two alcoholic beverages per entree, which must be placed in the trunk or glove box of the customer's car.

All businesses dealing with the manufacturing, distributing, selling, or importing of alcohol in Georgia must be licensed. As of 2023, there were over 120 licensed distillers and bottlers, about 170 breweries with active licenses, and more than 50 wineries in the state.

Texas Sunday alcohol sales hours

Texas's alcohol laws are regulated by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). The TABC writes specific regulations that help enforce ABC laws. Texas has many different liquor licenses and permits based on the type of business, and they all have slightly different rules. Every business is responsible for securing the proper license and making sure they follow the laws that apply to their type of license.

Texas liquor laws are stricter than those for beer. Texas liquor stores are closed on Sundays and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. If Christmas or New Year's falls on a Sunday, they must remain closed on Monday. Texas liquor stores, sometimes called "package" stores, operate from 10 am to 9 pm every other day.

For grocery and convenience stores, Texas's alcohol sales times for wine are the same as beer: Monday through Friday, 7 am to midnight, Saturday, 7 am to 1 am; and Sundays now, from 10 am to midnight.

Alcohol sales hours are different if you're being served for consumption on-premises, as you would at a bar or restaurant. For on-premises consumption, the rules are the same whether you're buying beer, wine, liquor, or mixed drinks. Texas's on-premises service hours are similar to their beer sales hours – they start at 7 am Monday through Saturday, end at midnight Sunday through Friday, and end at 1 am on Saturday. Sunday start times at bars or restaurants depend on whether you're ordering food as well – if you are, you can be served at 10 am. If not, you have to wait until noon. Alcohol service can begin at 10 am on Sunday during live events at sports venues, festivals, fairs, or concerts, regardless of food service. Certain bars or restaurants in the state can serve until 2 am any night of the week with a "late hours" permit. Hotel bars can serve registered guests at any time of day.

Wineries, which are usually a mix of on- and off-premises sales, can operate from 8 am to midnight every day except Sunday, when their hours are 10 am to midnight.

Tennessee liquor laws on Sundays

Tennessee's liquor laws have recently undergone a change, allowing liquor and wine to be sold on Sundays. This change was brought about by the Tennessee General Assembly's approval of HB 1540, which permits liquor stores to operate on Sundays and allows wine sales in grocery stores on the same day.

Previously, it was prohibited for wine and liquor to be sold in retail stores across Tennessee on Sundays. Now, grocery and liquor stores are allowed to sell beer, wine, and liquor from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Sundays. However, it is important to note that liquor sales remain prohibited on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Businesses with a package store license from the TABC (Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission) can also sell beer on Sundays, starting at 10:00 a.m. No additional permits, licenses, or approvals are required for these businesses to deliver alcoholic beverages, but they must adhere to certain restrictions. These include informing the TABC of their intent to deliver and posting a $1,000 bond. Deliveries must be made to the physical address provided by the customer and verified with a signed receipt.

While Tennessee has updated its laws to allow Sunday liquor sales, some other states, like Georgia, have more complex Sunday alcohol regulations. Georgia allows Sunday alcohol sales between 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., but this varies by jurisdiction and county. Some counties in Georgia restrict alcohol sales on Sundays altogether, while others allow it for on-premises consumption at bars and restaurants.

Understanding local liquor laws is essential, as they can vary even within a state, as demonstrated by the examples of Tennessee and Georgia.

Pennsylvania's Sunday alcohol sales permits

In Pennsylvania, a special Sunday sales permit is required to sell beer, with sales before 9 am prohibited. The hours for selling alcohol on Sundays are from 11:00 am to 2:00 am.

Who Needs a Sunday Sales Permit?

The following licensees need a Sunday sales permit to sell alcohol on Sundays:

• Liquor licensees
• Retail dispenser licensees
• Distributor (D) and importing distributor (ID) licensees
• Airport restaurant liquor (AR) licensees (unless it's Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick's Day or Groundhog's Day, when March 17 falls on a Sunday)

Who Doesn't Need a Sunday Sales Permit?

The following licensees do not need a Sunday sales permit to sell alcohol on Sundays:

• Hotel and certain restaurant licensees whose sales of food and non-alcoholic beverages equal 30% or more of the combined sales of both food and alcoholic beverages
• Eating place retail dispenser licensees (delis or corner stores)

Applying for a Sunday Sales Permit

To apply for a Sunday sales permit, a licensee must file an application and pay a fee. The application must contain information supporting the assertion that, for at least 90 consecutive days during the 12 months before the application date, sales of food and non-alcoholic beverages were equal to or exceeded 30% of the combined gross sales of both food and alcoholic beverages. The licensee is responsible for the accuracy of the information in the application, and any inaccuracies may result in a fine or suspension or revocation of the license.

Other Alcohol Sales Restrictions in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 683 municipalities that are at least partially dry, meaning they have restrictions on alcohol sales. The state also has a quota of one liquor license per 3,000 county inhabitants. Additionally, alcohol sales are prohibited to minors under 21, and stores typically close before 10 pm.

Dry counties in Georgia

Georgia's alcohol market is complex, with varying rules and regulations across the state. While Georgia is not a dry state, it does have some dry counties where retail liquor sales are illegal. These dry counties can set their own more restrictive rules, which can make understanding the state's liquor laws confusing.

In 2011, Georgia voted on whether to continue the ban on Sunday liquor sales, and 105 of 127 communities ended the ban. However, there are still some counties that restrict the sale of alcohol on Sundays. Georgia's Sunday alcohol laws allow sales between 12:30 pm and 11:30 pm, but this varies by jurisdiction.

As of 2023, the dry counties in Georgia include Bleckley, Coweta, Dodge, Effingham, Franklin, Hart, Lumpkin, Murray, and Union counties. White County is also considered a dry county, but the city of Helen permits alcohol sales. Butts and Decatur counties prohibit alcohol sales for on-site consumption but allow off-site consumption sales.

Upson County is an interesting case, as it prohibits retail alcohol sales but permits alcohol service in bars and restaurants as of 2014. Some jurisdictions in Georgia have a ""brunch law," allowing alcohol service in bars and restaurants to begin at 11 am on Sundays.

The state of Georgia requires special training for anyone selling or delivering alcohol. Understanding the local liquor laws is essential to avoid legal trouble, as Georgia law allows victims of alcohol-related injuries to take legal action against the business or individuals who provided the alcohol.

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