Here's How to Check If Liquor Stores Will Be Open on Thanksgiving Day in Your State

Erin Cavoto
·2 min read

Whether you're in charge of the Thanksgiving menu or you're just a guest this year, odds are you'll want to grab a few bottles of wine to enjoy with dinner. But on Thanksgiving Day...can you? Are liquor stores even open on Thanksgiving? And if so, which ones?

Don't worry, Thanksgiving wine aficionados: We've got answers. For starters, it's important to know that while there are grocery stores open on Thanksgiving, liquor laws vary by state, which means that some may carry what you need while others won't. For instance, some states allow only the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores while others prohibit the sale of alcohol entirely. As if that isn't confusing enough, each state independently decides whether alcohol can be sold on Thanksgiving.

Below, we'll cover which states allow the sale of beer, wine, and liquor on Thanksgiving as well as those that don't. Of course, if you're planning on having dinner at one of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving then you won't have to worry about this! To avoid any headaches on the big day itself, you can always do your shopping earlier in the week, too—especially since there are quite a few liquor stores closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Which states sell alcohol on Thanksgiving 2021?

You probably already know that liquor laws vary on a state-by-state basis. Some states have state-operated liquor stores, while others are more lenient with alcohol sales. Some only allow beer to be sold in supermarkets, while others don't restrict the type of alcohol they can sell.

Here, you'll find the places where liquor stores should be open on Thanksgiving Day—but of course, it could vary depending on the store or county you live in. For the most accurate information, you can always contact your state's alcohol control board directly or call the particular store you want to shop from in advance.

  • Alaska

  • Arizona

  • Arkansas

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Florida

  • Georgia

  • Hawaii

  • Illinois

  • Indiana

  • Iowa

  • Kentucky

  • Louisiana

  • Maine

  • Maryland

  • Michigan

  • Mississippi

  • Missouri

  • Nebraska

  • Nevada

  • New Jersey

  • New Mexico

  • New York

  • Oregon (However, stores may decide to close.)

  • Pennsylvania (State-operated liquor stores will be closed.)

  • South Carolina

  • South Dakota

  • Vermont

  • Washington

  • West Virginia

  • Wisconsin

  • Wyoming

Photo credit: Emily Suzanne McDonald - Getty Images
Photo credit: Emily Suzanne McDonald - Getty Images

Which states prohibit alcohol sales on Thanksgiving?

Here are the states where you'll find that liquor stores are normally closed on Thanksgiving Day. However, you may still want to check with your state's alcohol control board or the store you have in mind, as privately-owned stores may be open in some of these states.

  • Alabama (Beer and wine may be purchased, but spirits won't be for sale.)

  • Connecticut

  • Delaware

  • Idaho

  • Kansas

  • Massachusetts

  • Minnesota

  • Montana

  • New Hampshire

  • North Carolina

  • North Dakota

  • Ohio

  • Oklahoma

  • Rhode Island

  • Tennessee

  • Texas

  • Utah

  • Virginia