Can You Buy Beer on Sunday in Tennessee: A Guide On The Alcohol Law
Can you buy beer on Sunday in Tennessee? This is a question often asked because purchasing and selling alcohol in Tennessee is not as straightforward as beer lovers would want, especially on certain days.
We have examined all of the state’s alcohol laws and will address the question and related issues in this article. Let’s get straight into it!
Can You Buy Beer on Sunday in Tennessee?
Fortunately, you can now buy beer on Sunday in Tennessee. This is a result of the changes made by the Tennessee General Assembly to the Tennessee alcohol laws in 2018. While the bill allowing people to buy beers on Sunday was passed in 2018, it was not until 2019 that it took effect across all grocery stores in the state.
The new bill was signed to increase both state and local alcohol sales and revenues, benefiting both parties. This shouldn’t come as much of a shock considering how busy Sundays are for shopping.
However, while you can now buy beer on Sunday in Tennessee, there are still a few restrictions and conditions to its purchase. They are the time and location of purchasing the beer.
It was different back in the day. Imagine walking into a package or grocery store on a lovely Sunday afternoon to get a beer for your football match later in the day. You walk up to the grocery store attendant and attempt to pay for your beer only to get turned down. The following conversation ensues.
“We’re sorry, but we cannot sell beer to you today,” the package store attendant retorts. “Why?” you ask. “Well, because it’s illegal in Tennessee,” the store attendant responds. We know this sounds ridiculous, but that is how the conversation would have gone a few years ago in Tennessee.
– Stores to Buy Beer on Sunday in Tennessee
You should know the type of stores where you can purchase beer freely on a Sunday. We have outlined them below. We’ve also covered the counties with strict and lax restrictions in the FAQs section below.
– Package Store
These stores, also known as liquor stores, are free to sell beer freely every day of the week. These stores can sell alcohol between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.
However, you can only buy beer here between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Sundays. This is in line with the stipulated time for retail stores.
– Grocery Stores
In Tennessee, you can buy beer in these stores between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, you can only buy beer between 10 a.m. and 11 pm. When the bill was passed some years ago, grocery stores were the last stores to be approved. But you can be sure now that the new alcohol law is in effect in these stores.
– Gas Stations
You can buy beer in Tennessee on Sundays in gas stations. The window for sale is the same as with retail stores — 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
– Bars, Restaurants, and Breweries
You can buy beer on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 3 a.m. in these locations. There are quite a few laws guiding the sale of beer in these locations. Also, you can only buy beer within this window.
Practically, though, most bars, restaurants, and breweries close around midnight. This means you have to go far earlier than the deadline if you want to buy beer here. Also, the state does not support giving out free drinks in these locations. You have to pay for all bottles and kegs of beer you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
– What Time Can You Buy Beer on Sunday in Tennessee?
You can buy beers on Sundays in Tennessee between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. in retail stores, that is, package stores and grocery stores. Bars and restaurants are permitted to sell beers in Tennessee on Sundays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. However, it is worth noting that many bars shut down sales by 2 a.m.
– Where Can You Buy Beer on Sunday in Tennessee?
Tennessee has 95 counties but not all allow the free sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages. Counties that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages are known as “dry counties.” In Tennessee, they are as follows:
- Crockett County
- Fentress County
- Hancock County
- Houston County
- Meigs County
- Moore County
- Stewart County
- Union County
Some counties in Tennessee are considered as wet, meaning they do not place any restrictions on the sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages. Wet counties include the following:
- Cumberland County
- Davidson County
- Hamilton County
- Knox County
- Loudon County
- Polk County
- Rutherford County
- Shelby County
- Sumner County
- Williamson County
All other counties in Tennessee are classified as “moist,” meaning they have some municipalities and jurisdictions that permit the sale of alcohol. However, some regions of the county may place some restrictions on beer purchases. While time is one thing, knowing where you can buy beer in Tennessee is another.
– Can You Buy Beer on Sunday in Tennessee if You Are Under 21?
The legal drinking age in Tennessee is 21, with no exceptions. This also applies to purchasing beer every day of the week. Liquor sales are prohibited among underage individuals, and drinkers caught flouting this law may be jailed.
– On What Days Can You Not Buy Beer in Tennessee?
Since 2019, Sundays are not off-limits for purchasing beer. However, alcohol sales are still prohibited on some days of the year, namely Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. You can buy beer on other national holidays, including Labor Day, New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July.
– Can You Buy Alcohol on Sunday in GA (Georgia)?
As with Tennessee, you can purchase alcohol on Sunday in Georgia. However, the window for purchase differs. In Georgia, you can buy alcohol on Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 11:30 pm. In some cities, bars and restaurants are allowed to start selling beers at 11 am. Some people from Tennessee tend to ask this question because Georgia borders the said state
– What Time Can You Buy Beer in Memphis on Sunday?
The answer to this question is the same as the question, “what time can I buy beer in Tennessee?” Retail stores can sell beer on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m., while restaurants and bars can serve alcohol between 10 a.m. and 3 a.m.
Memphis is the second-largest city in Tennessee, and it is in Shelby County, one of the wet counties of the state.
– What Time Can You Buy Wine in Tennessee?
The same principles for buying beer in Tennessee apply to wine. That is, between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.
But on Sundays, you can buy wine between 10 a.m. and 11 pm.
Conclusion
We have discussed the alcohol and liquor laws of Tennessee as it relates to buying beer on Sundays, so let us overview the key points from the article:
- You can now buy beers in Tennessee on Sundays.
- The legal window for purchasing beers is between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. for retail stores and between 10 a.m. and 3 a.m. for restaurants, bars, and breweries.
- While most of the counties freely allow the sale of beers in Tennessee, there are nine dry counties. Ensure you check for the county regulations before you attempt to buy beer in the state.
Gone are the days when you could not just walk into a store on a Sunday in Tennessee and buy beer. Now, you can buy beer at the most convenient times. However, ensure you are over 21 before buying beer in Tennessee.
