Walmart stores in the US sell alcoholic beverages but like other grocery stores, do Walmart follow dry laws prohibiting purchasing and selling alcoholic beverages in a specific time frame?
What time does Walmart stop selling alcohol, and do they have alcohol restrictions? Read on to find out.
About What Time Does Walmart Stop Selling Alcohol?
Walmart stops selling alcohol as early as 5 PM, but in some states, local Walmart sells alcohol until late evening and midnight.
You can buy everything from Walmart very quickly except for alcoholic beverages because the time of alcohol purchases at local Walmart varies from state to state.
There are stores without alcohol sales hours, but if you are from a state like South Carolina, Walmart stores stop selling alcohol at 7 PM.
Some states restrict Sunday sales, while there are dry towns where alcohol sales are strictly prohibited [1].
A Closer Look Per State
Alabama
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Sunday alcohol sales are allowed only in these counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Calhoun, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Sumter, Greene, Hale, Houston, Jackson, Madison, Tuscaloosa, Russell, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lee, Colbert, Elmore, Etowah, Lowndes, Macon, St. Claire, and Wilcox.
Arizona
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Arkansas
Selling Hours: 7:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Sunday sales are only allowed in Baxter, Benton, Franklin, Boone, Carroll, Marion, and Washington.
Alcohol sales are prohibited in dry towns: Arkansas, Calhoun, Mississippi, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Logan, Sebastian, Cleveland, Pulaski, Conway, Monroe, Ouachita, Poinsett, Prairie, Cross, Crittenden, Drew, Garland, St. Francis, Union, Dallas, and Woodruff.
California
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Colorado
Selling Hours: 8:00 AM – 12:00 MN
Days: Every day
Restrictions: Selling alcoholic drinks on Christmas day is not allowed.
Connecticut
Selling Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Sunday alcohol sales begin at 10 AM to 6 PM only
Delaware
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: You can purchase alcohol from 12 NN to 8 PM on Sundays.
District of Columbia
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM – 12:00 MN
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Florida
Selling Hours: 7:00 AM – 12:00 MN
Days: Every day
Restrictions: Size limited to 32 oz. You cannot buy alcoholic beverages in 40 oz bottles.
Georgia
Selling Hours: 12:00 NN in most counties
Days: Set by county but different on Sundays
Restrictions: Restrictions vary depending on county regulations. Alcohol sales time every Sunday varies depending on the county where the grocery chain is located [2].
Hawaii
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 12:00 MN
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Idaho
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Illinois
Selling Hours: Set by municipalities
Days: Set by municipalities
Restrictions: Set by municipalities
Indiana
Selling Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Sunday sales on alcoholic beverages from 8 AM – 2 AM. Any Walmart store should not sell cold beers.
Iowa
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Mondays to Saturdays
Restrictions: Walmart stores sell alcohol from 8 AM to 2 AM every Sunday.
Kansas
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Days: Every day but different on Sundays
Restrictions: Every Sunday, liquor sales begin at 12 NN.
Kentucky
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Grocery stores can sell liquor every Sunday from 1 PM to 2 AM.
Louisiana
Selling Hours: 12:00 NN – 2:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Walmart chains in some counties stop selling alcohol every Sunday.
Maine
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: On Sundays, buying alcohol starts from 9 AM to 1 AM.
Maryland
Selling Hours: Set by county
Days: Set by county
Restrictions: Alcohol sales in Baltimore and Garrett counties are prohibited.
Massachusetts
Selling Hours: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: State-owned stores and other stores can sell every Sunday from 10 AM to 11 PM.
Michigan
Selling Hours: 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: On Sundays, Walmart can sell from 12 NN to 2 AM only.
Minnesota
Selling Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Stores can sell alcohol from 11 AM to 6 PM on Sundays.
Mississippi
Selling Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Days: Every day but no liquor sales on Sundays.
Restrictions: No alcohol sales in these dry counties: Benton, Smith, Walthall, Itawamba, Webster, Choctaw, Clarke, and Prentiss.
Missouri
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Stores can sell alcohol from 9 AM to 12 MN on Sundays only.
Montana
Selling Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Nebraska
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: On Sundays, alcohol sales begin at noon.
Nevada
Selling Hours: 12:00 MN – 12:00 MN
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
New Hampshire
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 11:45 PM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
New Jersey
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Days: Every day but may vary depending on the county.
Restrictions: No sales in dry towns in every county except Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, Middlesex Union, and Warren.
New Mexico
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: Sunday statewide sales of alcohol start from 12 NN to 12 MN but vary depending on other counties.
New York
Selling Hours:
8:00 AM – 12:00 MN (Liquor & Wine)
12:00 MN – 12:00 MN (Beers)
Days: Mondays to Saturdays
Restrictions: 24 hours on Beers. Liquor and Wine sales start from 12 NN to 9 PM on Sundays.
North Carolina
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM 9:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: On Sundays, Walmart can sell alcohol from 12 PM to 9 PM.
North Dakota
Selling Hours: 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: On Sundays, Walmart can sell alcohol from 12 PM to 2 AM. It should be in a separate area.
Ohio
Selling Hours: 5:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Read: What Time Can You Buy Alcohol in Ohio?
Oklahoma
Selling Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: No Sunday sales.
Oregon
Selling Hours: 7:00 AM – 2:30 AM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Pennsylvania
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: On Sundays, Walmart can sell alcohol from 11 AM to 7 PM. It should be in a separate area.
Rhode Island
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: On Sundays, Walmart can sell alcohol from 10 AM to 6 PM.
South Carolina
Selling Hours: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Days: Every day (Varies)
Restrictions: Varies depending on each county.
South Dakota
Selling Hours: 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: It should be in a separate area.
Tennessee
Selling Hours: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Days: Every day but no Sunday deals for liquors and wines
Restrictions: No specified hours for beer
Texas
Selling Hours: 7:00 AM – 12:00 MN
Days: Monday – Friday but different for weekends
Restrictions: Saturday sales can be until 1 AM. Sunday’s schedule is between 12 NN to 12 MN.
Utah
Selling Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: No alcohol sales on Sundays.
Vermont
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 12:00 MN
Days: Every day but different on Sundays
Restrictions: Sunday’s schedule is between 8 AM to 10 PM.
Virginia
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 12:00 MN
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Washington
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
West Virginia
Selling Hours:
7:00 AM – 2:00 AM (Beer & Wine)
8:00 AM – 12:00 MN (Liquor)
Days: Mondays – Saturdays
Restrictions: The beer and wine selling schedule is from 1 PM to 2 AM.
Wisconsin
Selling Hours:
6:00 AM – 12:00 MN (Beer & Wine)
6:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Liquor)
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
Wyoming
Selling Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Days: Every day
Restrictions: None
What Time Does Walmart Start Selling Alcohol?
Walmart can start selling alcoholic drinks as early as six in the morning, but that can depend on the day of the week and the location of the grocery stores.
In addition, the alcoholic beverages sold in Walmart vary depending on the type of drink since some alcohol laws are particular with wine, beer, and malt liquor.
Does Walmart Sell Alcohol On Sundays?
Yes, Walmart sells alcohol on Sundays, but that varies on the store location.
Walmart does not call the shots on when and what liquor to sell on a certain day because they follow the local state liquor laws.
“No one wants to endanger the health of their constituents…you risk everyone’s health if they’re going to the state border to buy alcohol,”
– Michael Belsky, Executive Director for Municipal Finance
In some states, they stop selling liquor at specific hours on Sundays. In Louisiana and Mississippi, they do not sell alcohol on Sundays.
Does It Sell Alcohol In Every State?
No, Walmart does not sell alcohol in every state.
The alcohol sale varies depending on what type of liquor and when you are going to buy alcohol; there are dry towns where sales of alcohol are strictly prohibited.
State laws regulate alcohol use, but people’s behavior changes, so regulation must be observed [3].
Can You Order Alcohol On Walmart’s Website Anytime?
No, you cannot order alcohol on Walmart’s Website anytime.
You can order alcohol online using the Walmart Website or Walmart App, but state and local laws regulate the sales of alcohol.
Based on Walmart online, they only allow the sale of alcohol during a lawful time frame.
You can have it delivered or picked up on time slots that allow the sale of alcohol.
If you select the time slot where it is unlawful to sell the alcohol, they will remove it from your order.
Does It Sell Alcohol During Holidays?
Yes, Walmart offers alcoholic beverages during holidays.
However, the sale of alcohol in a Walmart store may vary depending on location.
For instance, in Colorado, the state law prohibits the sale of alcohol during Christmas, but if it is during alcohol sales hours in New York, Walmart manages to sell liquor.
FAQs
What do you need to buy alcohol at Walmart?
To buy alcohol in Walmart, you must provide an ID to purchase the alcohol.
If you provide falsified documents, the customer and the seller may receive penalties and federal punishment for illegal sales of alcohol.
Can you still buy alcohol at Walmart on special considerations?
No, Walmart does not take special considerations and strictly follows state laws about sales of alcoholic beverages.
Walmart shops stop selling alcohol in unlawful time frames but continue selling when alcohol sales are legal.
Can I buy alcohol at Walmart on Sundays?
In many areas, Walmart sells alcohol on Sundays, but the hours may be restricted compared to other days of the week due to local regulations.
What types of alcohol does Walmart sell?
Walmart typically sells a wide range of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails, though the selection may vary by location.
Do Walmart’s alcohol sales hours change during holidays?
Alcohol sales hours at Walmart may change during holidays or special occasions, so it’s advisable to check with your local store for any adjustments to operating hours.
Final Thoughts
Walmart chain stores stop selling alcohol within the time frame prohibited by state laws. They stop selling as early as 5 PM, but in some states, they can sell alcohol for 24 hours.
The time Walmart stops selling alcohol is based on the local and state liquor laws and is not a decision from the management.
Also, you have to be of legal age before buying alcohol in Walmart.
If you order online, Walmart stops selling alcohol on unlawful time slots and sells beer and other alcoholic beverages at the time allowed by the state.
References:
- https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/06/05/why-america-still-has-dry-counties
- https://codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-3-alcoholic-beverages/ga-code-sect-3-3-7.html
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/coronavirus-changed-states-alcohol-laws/story
- https://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/apis-policy-topics/underage-purchase-of-alcohol/43/about-this-policy
