US Trends

what liquor stores are open on christmas day

Most dedicated liquor stores are closed on Christmas Day, but a few independent stores may open in places where state and local laws allow it. In many areas, you may still be able to buy beer or wine at grocery or convenience stores even when liquor shops are shut.

Big picture (U.S. and similar regions)

  • No single national rule. Alcohol and holiday hours are set by states, and often counties or cities, so what is open on December 25 depends heavily on where you live.
  • Most traditional liquor stores close. State‑run shops and big chains (like state ABC stores, Total Wine & More, BevMo! in the U.S.) typically treat Christmas as a full holiday and do not open.
  • “Maybe” for independents. In states that allow Christmas Day alcohol sales, privately owned liquor stores can choose to open with limited hours, especially in touristy or dense urban areas.

Examples of legal patterns by state (U.S.)

VinePair’s 2025 breakdown shows how different things are from state to state.

  • Clearly closed by law (no liquor sales):
    • Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi (over 5% ABV), New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, plus others where state law bars Christmas liquor sales.
* In these places, _liquor stores are simply not allowed to be open_ on Dec 25.
  • “Some” availability (mixed rules):
    • Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and more are listed as “Some.”
* Common pattern:
  * State‑run liquor stores: closed.
  * Grocery/convenience stores: often allowed to sell beer and/or wine if they are open.
  * Independently owned liquor stores: may or may not open, depending on local rules and the owner.
  • Generally allowed (liquor stores may open):
    • States like Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming allow alcohol sales on Christmas Day.
* Many stores in these states still **choose** to close for the holiday, so you cannot assume they are open.

Quick HTML table: can alcohol be sold on Christmas Day? (U.S. snapshot)

This table is about legal possibility , not a guarantee that stores will actually open.

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>State</th>
      <th>Any alcohol sales allowed on Dec 25?</th>
      <th>Typical liquor store status</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>California</td>
      <td>Yes (no statewide ban)</td>
      <td>Most large liquor chains close; some independents may open limited hours.[web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Texas</td>
      <td>Some (beer &amp; wine in groceries; liquor stores barred)</td>
      <td>Liquor/package stores closed by law; check groceries for beer &amp; wine.[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Florida</td>
      <td>Some (depends on county)</td>
      <td>No statewide closure; many liquor stores close, some open where counties permit.[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>New York</td>
      <td>Yes</td>
      <td>Legally may open, but many independent shops choose to close.[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Pennsylvania</td>
      <td>Some</td>
      <td>State-run Fine Wine &amp; Good Spirits closed; some groceries sell beer/wine if open.[web:3][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Oregon</td>
      <td>Yes</td>
      <td>State law allows opening; many state‑contract stores still close for the holiday.[web:3][web:1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Massachusetts</td>
      <td>No</td>
      <td>Liquor stores closed by law.[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Minnesota</td>
      <td>No</td>
      <td>Liquor stores closed by law.[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Outside the U.S. (quick notes)

  • Some countries (and some Australian states) shut all bottle shops on Christmas Day, treating it like a strict public holiday.
  • In more liberal markets, hotels, bars, or restaurants may serve alcohol even when retail bottle shops are closed, especially in tourist areas.

How to find what’s open near you

Because availability is so local, the only reliable way to know which specific liquor stores are open on Christmas Day near you is to check locally.

  1. Search by city + “liquor store Christmas Day hours.”
    • Include your city or ZIP/postcode so you see nearby businesses that publish holiday hours.
  2. Use map apps and filters.
    • Many mapping apps let you filter for “Open now” and show Christmas Day hours if stores have updated them.
  1. Check store or chain websites.
    • Big chains and state boards often post holiday hours pages or banners in early December.
  1. Call the store directly.
    • This is the safest option; owners may change hours last‑minute due to weather, staffing, or local rules.

Practical planning tips

  • Assume “closed unless confirmed otherwise.” Most guides and retailer policies stress buying your liquor before December 25 because last‑minute options are limited.
  • Use grocery or convenience stores as backup. Where allowed, they may still sell lower‑ABV options like beer and wine when liquor shops are shut.
  • Watch local news or forums. Local subreddits and community boards often post reminders that “all bottle shops are closed Christmas Day, stock up now.”

TL;DR: There is no universal list of liquor stores open on Christmas Day, and in many places it is illegal or against company policy for them to open. To avoid being stuck, plan to buy what you need by Christmas Eve and treat any Christmas‑Day liquor store you find as the exception, not the rule.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.