Most places in the U.S. do sell beer on Thanksgiving, but it depends on the state and sometimes the county or city.

General rule

• Many states allow normal or near-normal beer and wine sales on Thanksgiving at grocery and convenience stores (for example, Texas and Michigan allow beer sales that day, with some hour limits in Texas).

• Some states ban all retail alcohol sales on Thanksgiving, including beer (for example, Connecticut, Kansas, and a few others), so you cannot buy beer there that day.

• A third group allows only beer and/or wine but bans liquor sales, or closes state-run liquor stores while private groceries may still sell beer (examples include Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, and others).

What you should do

• Check your specific state’s Thanksgiving alcohol rules, since they vary and can change year to year.

• Even where beer sales are legal, individual stores can choose to close or shorten hours for the holiday, so calling the exact store you plan to visit is the safest move.