As a wise VinePair contributor once said, the Fourth of July is made for beer. If you’re planning ahead and wondering what to buy, we’ve got you covered here. But if you’re reading this on the way to the party, panicking over whether you can buy beer on the Fourth of the July, look no further.

This is your handy guide to buying beer on Independence Day.

In most states, buying beer on the Fourth of July is legal, although some have restrictions regarding time or place of sale. If you’re in Tennessee, you’re suds out of luck.

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Everyone else, we encourage you to embrace your inner patriotism (it’s in there somewhere! We swear!) by picking up some local beer this weekend. Nothing is more American than beer, and celebrating independence with independence gives us the warm and fuzzies.

State Beer? Notes
Alabama Yes Beer must be under 14% ABV and below 25.5 ounces. 26 counties are “dry,” thus do not allow the sale of alcohol, but possession and consumption are legal here. Furthermore, 23 of the 26 dry counties have at least one “wet” city, which technically makes them “moist” dry counties. Way to make it weird, Alabama.
Alaska Yes
Arizona Yes “Beer busts,” or all-you-can-drink deals, are illegal.
Arkansas Yes  Except between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m.
California Yes
Colorado Yes 8 a.m. to midnight for all beer, wine, and liquor; 5 a.m. to midnight for 3.2 beer. Good looks, Colorado.
Connecticut Yes
Delaware Yes
District of Columbia Yes
Florida Yes Prohibited between 12 a.m. and 7 a.m.
Georgia Yes Cap of 14% ABV. Guess that means no Utopias at your BBQ.
Hawaii Yes
Idaho Yes
Illinois Yes
Indiana Yes But it won’t be cold if it’s from a grocery store or gas station. It will be cold from a liquor store.
Iowa Yes
Kansas Yes Only 3.2 beer at grocery stores and gas stations. Kansas alcohol laws are quite complicated.
Kentucky Yes Except in the approximately 39 dry counties. Stay near major metropolitan areas.
Louisiana Yes Everywhere, all the time.
Maine Yes If you’re not in one of the 56 towns that prohibit the sale of alcohol.
Maryland Yes  Varies by locality.
Massachusetts Yes
Michigan Yes
Minnesota Yes Get your growlers before 10 p.m.
Mississippi Yes Even some dry counties have voted in beer sales, in certain cities.
Missouri Yes
Montana Yes
Nebraska Yes
Nevada Yes  24/7.
New Hampshire Yes 14% ABV cap.
New Jersey Yes But most supermarkets, convenience stores, and gas stations don’t sell it.
New Mexico Yes
New York Yes At supermarkets and convenience stores (not at liquor stores). Some counties ban beer sales, and there are 12 dry towns, mostly in western N.Y.
North Carolina Yes 15% ABV cap. Progress!
North Dakota Yes
Ohio Yes Some counties restrict hours of off-premises sales.
Oklahoma Yes If it’s 4% ABV or higher, and it’s sold at a liquor store, it can only be sold at room temperature. Bring a cooler.
Oregon Yes
Pennsylvania Yes But not at state-operated liquor stores.
Rhode Island Yes Only in liquor stores.
South Carolina Yes  14% ABV cap. Off-premises beer and low-alcohol wine sold 24 hours.
South Dakota Yes
Tennessee No.  Bummer.
Texas Yes 7 a.m. to midnight, unless you’re in one of 11 completely dry counties.
Utah Yes No kegs. Only state-controlled stores can sell booze over 4% ABV, and those all close by 10 p.m.
Vermont Yes Up to 16% ABV in grocery and convenience stores! Over 16% ABV, head to state liquor stores. (Sometimes they’re attached, so you’re probably fine.)
Virginia Yes Off-premises sales no later than 12 a.m.
Washington Yes
West Virginia Yes 12% ABV cap on beer. Laaame. Also, if you’re buying loose bottles and cans, they’ve gotta be in a bag.
Wisconsin Yes Some counties and municipalities only allow beer sales until 9 p.m.
Wyoming Yes

Published: June 29, 2018