Updated June 2026.
Washington’s statewide beer clock is 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. every day, including Sunday (WAC 314-11-070; WSLCB RVP FAQ). Beer is liquor under that rule. Grocery, gas station, and tavern use the same window unless a city or county set a tighter one for every licensee. There is no statewide holiday blackout and no leftover 3.2 loophole. A 2:15 a.m. cooler is not permission. Age 21.
There is no separate “beer is different” statewide loophole. Spirits in a grocery (I-1183, 2012) use the same 6-to-2 box. Tribal land is not a statewide exception — do not treat a reservation ordinance as Washington grocery law. Alcohol impact areas can be tighter (WAC 314-12-215).
What WAC 314-11-070 actually bans
| Between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Sell beer (or any liquor) | No |
| Offer it for sale | No |
| Consumer delivery / take it out the door | No |
| On-premises consumption | No |
| Distributor drop to a retailer | Yes — beer/wine distributors may deliver to retail licensees in that window |
| Christmas / Thanksgiving / New Year’s | No statewide holiday blackout in the WAC. Store may still close |
| Local earlier close / later open | Yes, if it applies to all licensed premises in that city/county (AIA exceptions in WAC 314-12-215) |
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board FAQ repeats the same 6 a.m.–2 a.m. line. Hours live in the WAC (authority RCW 66.08.030), not a second statewide clock. A store that locks the beer cave at 10 p.m. is following policy or a local rule, not a different state statute. Pages that still print “3.2 beer anytime” are stale. Delivery apps attached to a retailer are still sales. For another state’s default see Florida and Colorado. Gas stations follow the license: gas stations.
Sources
- WAC 314-11-070 (fetched 2026): no sale/offer/consumer delivery/removal/consumption 2:00 a.m.–6:00 a.m.; local government may set later opening or earlier closing for all licensees.
- WSLCB RVP FAQ: alcohol sold 6 a.m.–2 a.m. (cites the same WAC).
- No city-by-city table (would go stale). AIA rules are local overlays. No tribal roster.