In the United States, whether you can buy alcohol on Thanksgiving depends on the state and sometimes even the county or city where you are.
General rule
- Many states allow alcohol sales on Thanksgiving with normal or slightly adjusted hours, especially for beer and wine in grocery or convenience stores.
- Several states restrict or ban certain types of alcohol sales (often liquor/spirits) on Thanksgiving, even if beer and wine are still available.
Examples by state
- Fully allowed: States like California, Nevada (except dry towns), New York, and Washington generally allow alcohol sales on Thanksgiving, though individual store hours may vary.
- Partially allowed: In Alabama and Mississippi, beer (and sometimes wine) may be sold, but liquor sales are restricted or banned on Thanksgiving.
- Not allowed (off‑premise): States such as Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Utah prohibit off‑premise alcohol sales on Thanksgiving (liquor stores closed, and often no beer/wine to-go).
Quick comparison
Here is a simplified snapshot for a few states:
State| Thanksgiving alcohol sales?| Key detail
---|---|---
California| Yes| Stores may choose reduced hours. 1
Texas| Some| Beer and wine allowed in groceries; liquor stores closed. 12410
Connecticut| No (off‑premise)| All off‑premise sales, including package stores
and grocery beer, banned. 13
Massachusetts| No (off‑premise)| Liquor stores closed due to “blue laws.” 179
New York| Yes| Retail alcohol sales generally permitted; check local store
hours. 1
What you should do
- Check your specific state and county rules because local “blue laws” or dry areas may be stricter than state law.
- Call the exact store (liquor store, grocery, or big-box) you plan to visit to confirm whether they are open and what types of alcohol they can sell on Thanksgiving.
If you tell which state you are in, a more precise answer for your situation is possible.
