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What States Allow Grocery Stores to Sell Liquor? (state by state)

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After the end of prohibition in 1933, states were allowed to regulate alcohol sales themselves. But it resulted in a wide variety of laws from state to state. So many have wondered what states allow grocery stores to sell liquor?

I decided to investigate and here’s what I learned:

The states listed below allow sales of liquor in grocery stores:

  •  
  • Arizona
  • California*
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Louisiana**
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • South Dakota
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

But there’s a lot more to know than that!

Many states allow you to buy beer in grocery stores. But some only allow you to buy wine. Some states will allow you to buy liquor on Sundays, but even some of those don’t let you buy it before noon.

For example, in Nebraska, you cannot purchase liquor until noon. But in Florida, there are no time restrictions on liquor sales, but you can only purchase liquor from liquor stores.

And other states limit the liquor licenses chain stores have so not all locations may actually sell liquor. It all gets very confusing and frustrating.

But have no fear! We’ve done the leg work to make sure you are well-informed about each state’s alcohol laws. However, if you aren’t familiar with why some states don’t allow it, click here to read this comprehensive article on my website that breaks down exactly why some states have restrictive liquor laws, and what you can do to try and change them.

Ready? Just keep reading!

** Louisiana liquor sales are allowed in grocery stores. But, individual cities, towns, and villages may disallow it. Shreveport does not allow hard liquor sales in grocery and other non-liquor store outlets. Bossier city does allow hard liquor sales in grocery stores. Rural Caddo Parish allows it as well.

Can you buy liquor on Sundays in the states that allow liquor in grocery stores?

The states listed below allow sales of liquor in grocery stores on Sunday:

  • Washington
  • California*
  • Nevada
  • Arizona
  • New Mexico
  • Wyoming
  • North Dakota
  • South Dakota
  • Nebraska**
  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • Wisconsin
  • Michigan
  • Massachusetts

*California does not allow alcohol to be displayed within five feet of the cash register if the establishment also sells motor fuel. (Because it encourages drinking and driving???)

**Nebraska allows liquor sales on Sunday beginning at noon.

Indiana does allow the sale of liquor in grocery stores. However, there are no alcohol sales at grocery stores on Sunday whatsoever. West Virginia grocery stores are prohibited from selling liquor all day on Sunday.

Trader Joe’s is known for its low prices. But what about liquor? Do they sell it and is it also cheap?

Just click here to read my complete breakdown on Trader Joe’s and which states they are in allow them to sell liquor. But I also let you know what name brands they carry and the inside scoop on whether their prices are actually better than a liquor store.

How is alcohol regulated by the law?

Prohibition ended in 1933 with the ratification of the 21st amendment.

Since that time, alcohol has been regulated by a combination of federal, state, and local laws. These laws regulate the manufacturing and the sale of alcohol, as well as the drinking age.

The 21st amendment is the primary federal law governing alcohol policies. It also gives individual states control over whether to allow the sale of alcohol in the state at all.

It also regulates importing, distribution and possession of alcohol within the state. Some states offer local governments control over alcohol policy development and enforcement. Other states control alcohol policy at the state government level.

Unfortunately, the confusing state of affairs as it relates to alcohol policy is the drawback of giving states and local governments control over alcohol policy.

However, even with the flexibility of some laws at the state level, Congress maintains the power over certain alcohol policies, such as the minimum legal drinking age.

Love tequila? I sure do. But in the states that allow it, does Trader Joe’s carry tequila?

Click here to read this complete guide to EXACTLY what brands of tequila Trader Joe’s carries, how much of their selection is private label and what well-known brands actually make their private label tequila.

Which states have state-owned liquor stores?

In some states, the state has complete ownership and control over liquor stores.

This means that the stores generate income for the state. This money can be put towards education, infrastructure, or any other government needs. States also offer standardized training for liquor store owners and can restrict the number of liquor stores across the state.

Considering how many extra dollars are generated for the state, it’s interesting that there aren’t more states doing this. The states that currently have state-owned liquor stores are:

  • Alabama
  • Idaho
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • Utah
  • Virginia 

State-owned liquor stores are typically closed on Sunday and voting day.

An Overview of Alcohol sales

This handy map put together by Christopher Ingraham of the Washington Post shows a birds-eye view of state alcohol sales in supermarkets.

Note: the states labeled “No Sales” allow the sale of beer with very low alcohol content. As Christopher Ingraham says, “Near beer isn’t real beer.”

Alcohol is prohibited from being sold in grocery stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Alaska.

Maryland laws vary widely from county to county. Consult this county by county list to get the complete breakdown of laws.

Many states still prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sundays. Those that do allow sales on Sunday often can’t sell it until later in the day.

Check the state laws if you are planning on traveling to another state. It can be very frustrating if you are trying to buy alcohol, only to find out when you get to the register that you can’t purchase alcohol on Sunday.

Beer Only Sales

Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Minnesota allow only beer to be purchased at grocery stores.

However, grocery store sales are limited to beer with 4% ABV or lower. In Utah, beer over 4% ABV must be sold in state-run stores. Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Minnesota require that beer over 4% ABV be sold at liquor stores.

Of interest, Oklahoma requires that beer sold at liquor stores be sold at room temperature. (less likely to crack one open on the way home???)

New Jersey is interesting. While they do not limit the ABV of beer, grocery chains are only allowed 2 liquor licenses for the entire state.

This means that only 2 locations for each chain can sell beer in their stores. As a result, most grocery stores do not sell alcohol. Additionally, many establishments have a BYOB policy.

Liquor licenses are so expensive in New Jersey that they actually allow patrons to bring their own beer and wine for consumption.

Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, New York, and Connecticut all allow beer to be sold in grocery stores. However, there are some things you need to be mindful of:

Kentucky is said to have some of the most confusing liquor laws in the country.

They have wet, dry, and “moist” counties. It might be a good idea to check out their official wet/dry map before trying to purchase alcohol in Kentucky.

Alabama and Mississippi have several dry counties as well. Their official wet/dry lists can be found here and here, respectively.

Beer and Wine Sales

Southeastern states, along with Texas, Oregon, Indiana, Montana, Ohio, Vermont, and New Hampshire allow beer and wine sales in grocery stores.

Note: 40oz bottles of beer or malt liquor are not sold in Florida. The maximum available size is 32oz.

New Hampshire homebrewers take note: New Hampshire limits household beer or wine production to 100 gallons per year if you’re doing it by yourself (200 gallons if someone else helps).

Fun fact: As the flagship home of prohibition, Westerville, Ohio was once known as the “Dry Capital of the World.” During a period known as the Ohio Whiskey Wars, a businessman named Henry Corbin owned a saloon and sold alcohol despite local laws banning it.

The building was blown up in protest by residents multiple times.

Beer, Wine and Liquor Sales

Southwestern states and most midwestern states allow sales of beer, wine, and liquor in grocery stores.

The states listed below allow sales of liquor in grocery stores:

  • Arizona
  • California*
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Louisiana**
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Missouri
  • Michigan
  • Massachusetts
  • South Dakota
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

*Fun fact: California does not allow alcohol to be displayed within five feet of the cash register if the establishment also sells motor fuel.

** Louisiana liquor sales are allowed in grocery stores. But, individual cities, towns, and villages may disallow it. Shreveport does not allow hard liquor sales in grocery and other non-liquor store outlets. Bossier city does allow hard liquor sales in grocery stores. Rural Caddo Parish allows it as well.

Final thoughts

Trying to purchase alcohol while you’re traveling from state to state is very frustrating.

Laws are regulated at the state level and many states pass that responsibility down to counties and cities. We’ve gone over many of the laws, and have hopefully made it a little easier to navigate.

While this is a pretty thorough guide, you should still check the local laws. That’s especially true if you are going to a state that has several wet, dry or “moist” counties.

One thing more and more shoppers do these days is to order their groceries through companies like Instacart.

You can order beer, wine, and liquor through Instacart. But one thing you may not know is which stores Instacart raises the prices on.

Yes, it’s true. While they don’t do it with all stores, Instacart does bump prices up an average of 15% on many grocery stores. Check out which ones in a recent article.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

Additional source:

https://www.stateliquorlaws.com/map

What’s the Cost Difference Between Organic & Non-Organic Food?

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I’ve sold organic and non-organic food for decades but the most common question I get asked by shoppers is what’s the cost difference between organic & non-organic food?

Organically grown food is between 10%-20% more expensive than the same items not grown organically. The cost difference depends on the type of food item and where you buy it, as the buying power of a large chain can bring the cost down. 

But there’s a lot more to know about the cost differences, why organic food costs more, and what you can do to get the best prices.

And if you’re concerned about pesticides and GMOs, we’ll also get into the 12 items you should definitely spend the extra money on to buy organic.

To understand why so many people are willing to spend more money on organic food, we have to know the differences. When it’s all said and done, you might be more inclined to reach for the organic aisle next time you’re at the store.

Let’s take a quick look to see what there is to know.

What is the Difference Between Organic and Non-Organic Foods?

The main difference between organic and non-organic food is that organic food isn’t made with the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other artificial treatments. Organically-grown foods are regulated by the government, with strict requirements, testing & inspections required.

Non-organic food might be quicker to grow, but there have been some questions about the safety of non-organic foods that have caused many consumers to switch organic alternatives.

There currently aren’t any studies that directly link non-organic foods to health problems. However, the fuss is more about why someone should consume something with pesticides, growth hormones or GMOs in the first place.

To give you an idea of what’s used in the growth process of non-organic foods, here’s a list of a few common additives:

These might all sound a bit scary, but let’s take a step back for a second. Millions of people eat non-organic food every single day. The additives might have intimidating names, but they all serve a specific, justifiable purpose.

For example, herbicides and pesticides are both used to prevent bugs and invasive weeds from getting into the crops. A good representation of this would be the classic worm in the apple. Non-organic apples don’t have much of an issue with worms or other bugs due to the pesticides used.

GMOs and other hormones used in non-organic foods are designed to help grow food quicker. The USA has over 300 million people living within its borders. GMOs help with feeding that many people, and it’s still up for debate whether organic food could feed that many people, much less the entire world’s population.

If you’re worried about all of the pesticides and other sprays used on your food, simply wash them off before eating. In truth, many organic foods still have plant-based pesticides on them. Cleaning any food before consumption is always a good idea.

Is Organic Food Cheaper Than Non-Organic Food?

Organically-grown items are rarely as cheap as non-organic food items. This is due to the costs of being a certified organically-grown farm, but also supply and demand.

As I mentioned above, organic foods are regulated by the government. But they’re still not found at the grocery store nearly as often as so-called conventional foods.

Because organic food is less common, there are fewer growers. And those growers are smaller producers. All of that adds up to higher prices compared to the large multi-national corporate food producers.

After all, it’s much easier for a company to mass-produce hundreds of thousands of apples using GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and pesticides to ensure no bugs eat up half their supply.

But to call your product “organic” farmers and suppliers also have to pay for the certification. The cost to get organic certification can vary but is often upwards of $1,500. No big deal for a large company like Conagra. But a huge deal for your local farmer.
Here are a few examples of non-organic foods that are commonly more expensive than organic foods:

  • Oatmeal
  • Brown rice
  • Various other grains

On the other hand, here are some organic foods that are typically more expensive than non-organic foods:

  • Yogurt
  • Cheese
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Peanut butter
  • Beef burgers
  • Canned tomatoes

The list for this comparison can go on and on.

Most fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products are more expensive when they’re organic. It’s rare to find an instance in these food categories where organic is cheaper than non-organic.

However, grocery stores will occasionally mark down organic food on a sale, which can place the price of organic food lower than the non-organic alternative.

How much more expensive are organic foods?

Often, organically-grown foods are as much as 20% more expensive than non-organically-grown foods of the same type. But you may see that difference be lower in areas with a larger number of organically-certified farms.

Now that you’ve seen that the vast majority of food is more expensive when it’s organic, you might be wondering how big the price difference can be.

As mentioned above, meat, dairy, and other produce tend to cost much more. A recent study shows the following: 

  • Non-organic carrots cost $0.71 per pound.
  • Their organic counterparts come out to $1.51 per pound. 
  • The price differential is about 96%, which is rather staggering

Another example points towards the massive difference between non-organic and organic yogurt.

  • Non-yogurt came out to $0.06 an ounce.
  • Organic yogurt was $0.13 an ounce. 
  • It might not look like much, but the 117% increase adds up

However, brown rice and oatmeal were often cheaper when they were organic. Here are two examples of such instances:

  • Organic oatmeal was $0.16 an ounce, while non-organic oatmeal was $0.17 an ounce. The difference came out to be -6%.
  • Organic brown rice was $0.09 an ounce, while non-organic brown rice was $0.10 an ounce. 
  • The difference in this part of the study was -10%

There were also suggestions that organic food is sometimes more expensive than another brand of the same organic food.

Aside from brand name preferences, there’s a reason for these price changes. It all depends on the type of groceries and how far away they were sourced.

Organic food that comes from a local farm might be a bit more expensive, but that’s simply because of the qualifications to be considered “organic.” When something comes from far away, a certain level of pesticides (likely plant-based) is necessary to keep them safe from bugs during travel.

Is Organic Food Worth the Extra Money?

Many people concerned about their health, so prefer to spend more on organically-grown items to avoid GMOs, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides since we have not had the ability to study the long-term effects of those.

So, organic food is more than worth the investment to many consumers.

Knowing that they don’t have pesticides and growth hormones provides great peace of mind. While no studies point directly at the negative health benefits of non-organic foods, it’s still nice to know what you’re eating.

But the lack of studies also means we don’t really know the long-term effects of GMOs, pesticides, growth hormones, etc.

I can tell you that many things approved for use in the US are banned in Europe and a lot of that has to do with the large amounts of money that flow from the large chemical producers into the back pockets of politicians and lobbying groups.
The truth is that organic food is worth the extra money if you’re concerned about the additives.

For those of you on a budget, consider buying organic for these items only, known as the “Dirty Dozen” which are the most contaminated foods:

  • Strawberries
  • Spinach
  • Nectarines
  • Apples
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Cherries
  • Grapes
  • Celery
  • Tomatoes
  • Sweet bell peppers
  • Potatoes

They’re not any more nutritious than non-organic foods, but they’re purer and contain fewer chemicals. In the end, it’s up for you to decide whether or not the price hike is worth it.

Why Is Organic Food So Expensive?

Organic food is more expensive because of the costs involved with certification and increased pest management costs due to not using pesticides. Additionally, most organic farms are quite small compared to large conventional conglomerate farms, limiting their resources, making it harder to compete.

It’s going to be interesting to see how much the prices rise or lower in the upcoming years for organic food.

But I can tell you as someone who first started working for Whole Foods Market back in 1988, organically grown food has come a LONG way. Back then there was no certification, so anyone could call anything organic if they wanted to. It was also significantly more expensive back then too.

That was because there were so few people growing organically, and the consumer demand was low. As awareness has increased so has consumer demand. That always drives prices down.

Then as demand rose, large chain stores like Safeway jumped on the bandwagon, as did large food producers. All of which help consumers have better prices on organically grown food.
Recent trends have caused many companies to offer organic products to their selection, but will there ever be a time when all food is organic? And if so, will organic food still have high prices?

And if you think organic food is more expensive just so grocery stores can make more money, think again!

Grocery stores actually make very small profit margins. How low? I cover it all in a recent article. I even get into how these lower profit margins can work to your advantage with the prices you pay at checkout.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

Final Thoughts

Organic and non-organic food both have the same fantastic nutritional value.

But if you want the benefits of not eating food grown with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, GMOs or growth hormones, it will cost you. On average, organically grown food costs 10-20% more than non-organic.

Here are a few tips for picking out the best deals at your local grocery market:

  • Always look for deals on organic food
  • Keep in mind that organic brown rice, oatmeal, and other grains can be cheaper
  • Price increases are based on an average, so you might find similar prices between the two specifications
  • Just because it’s organic doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have plant-based pesticides

Want to look for more opportunities to find organically grown items on sale?

It helps to know exactly how and why stores pick certain items for their weekly and monthly sales. Check out this recent article where I break down all the insider tips on grocery store sales, how they get picked and how you can take better advantage of them.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

Are Aseptic Containers Recyclable? (Yes, but not everywhere)

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Aseptic containers can be found all over grocery store aisles. But as more and more people are going green, I’ve wondered are aseptic containers recyclable?

Aseptic cartons, which are made of layered paper, aluminum foil & plastic can be recycled in many major cities. But they are not always accepted curbside. Some cities have drop-off locations, but others don’t have a recycling option at all. In cases where it is not available, they can be mailed to recycling centers.

But there’s a lot more to know about them, why they are used and what the best thing is to do with them when you’ve emptied one, including the greenest thing you can do with them.

So let’s keep going!

What is an aseptic container or carton (also known as a Tetra Pak)?

Here are some of the most common food and beverages to be packaged in aseptic cartons:

  • Juice boxes
  • Chicken, beef, or veggie broth
  • Soup
  • Rice, Soy, or other non-dairy milk
  • Tomatoes
  • Wine

Aseptic processing, in one form or another, has been used since 1927. But it wasn’t until the 1940’s that the technology really flourished and became widely used, especially by Dole.

Back then it was just a method of pasteurizing foods and packaging them in ways that didn’t require refrigeration.

However, the packaging we see today on our grocery shelves came about in 1959 and was referred to as tetrahedrons. The cartons are made by layering paper, aluminum foil, and plastic.

However, t

Tetra Pak is a company that makes packaging like this, so Tetra Pak is simply a brand name.

They introduced this packaging in the US in 1962. However, at the time the cartons were hard to open and did not sell well.

However, they were widely used by the US Navy.

Other kinds of similar cartons are often found in the dairy section, selling milk, Silk non-dairy milk, and liquid egg whites. These cartons are officially known as gable-top cartons.

Can you recycle Tetra Paks or chicken broth containers?

The short answer is yes, but you’ll need to check your town’s recycling policies to see if you can recycle them curbside.

Recycling companies have to have the technology to separate the paper layers from the plastic and foil, and not every company can do that.

Want to know if your local recycling company can recycle aseptic cartons? Luckily Carton Council makes it easy to check with your zip code. Just click that link to check your town.

I live outside of Austin, Texas, but I used a central Austin zip code (78704) to see what options Austin has. Unfortunately, I got this message in checking “SORRY, CARTON RECYCLING IS NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA YET.”

Ironic given how progressive is (especially compared to Dallas which does allow them to be recycled curbside.

I went on to check several major metropolitan cities with the following results:

  • New York City – (10012) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Curbside Recycling program.”
  • Hollywood Los Angeles – (90210) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Curbside Recycling program.”
  • San Francisco, CA – (94117) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Curbside Recycling program.”
  • Dallas, TX – (75204) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Curbside Recycling program.”
  • Chicago, IL – (60654) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Curbside Recycling program.”
  • Orlando, FL – (32809) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Curbside Recycling program.”
  • Denver, CO – (80205) – “Cartons are recyclable in the Denver Metro Area” (but may vary by county
  • Nashville, TN – (37027) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Drop-off Recycling program”
  • Cleveland, OH – (44131) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Curbside Recycling program.”
  • New Orleans, LA (70122) – “Cartons are recyclable through your Drop-off Recycling program”

So clearly the technology to recycle is available and may be a curbside option in your town. But you should check your zip code to be sure.

Other towns have drop-off locations when curbside is not available.

Why is aseptic packaging used?

Quite simply, aseptic packaging allows manufacturers to take something that would normally require refrigeration and enable it to be sold and transported without refrigeration.

In fact, they don’t have to be refrigerated whatsoever until opened.

Aseptic cartons are a great way for manufacturers to make large quantities of products where normally they would have to make small quantities due to short expiration dates.

With aseptic containers, it’s not uncommon for cartons to be dated for up to 1 year ahead of time. So convenience, both for consumers and manufacturers is the #1 reason they are used.

From a green standpoint, although they can’t always be (easily) recycled, they don’t require refrigeration in trucking, warehousing, or selling.

Since aseptic cartons also weigh less than cans or glass bottles, they also use less fuel being distributed across the country.

Why do aseptic containers have a recycling symbol on it if they can’t always be recycled?

As we got into the above, they can actually be recycled curbside in many (but not all) cities.

But, oftentimes the manufacturer puts the symbol on there to indicate they are using recycled or recyclable materials to make the carton.

Tetra Pak, for instance, claims all of their cartons “are made of renewable materials, recyclable paperboard”.

Unfortunately, being made from recyclable materials or made from recycled materials doesn’t always make the end product itself recyclable in every city.

But since recycling is possible, they are labeled that way. The good news is that, according to Tetra Pak, carton recycling has increased 350% since 2009, so that’s a lot of stuff NOT hitting the landfill!

Do aseptic containers have to be trashed if my town doesn’t recycle them?

No, is the short answer. You can save the local landfill and do your part to recycle by mailing them to a recycling center.

Here is how to do that:

  1. Make sure the cartons are empty and totally dry
  2. If they came with a screw-on cap, leave the cap on.
  3. If they came with straws (like juice boxes) place the straws inside the empty container
  4. It’s OK to flatten them
  5. Place multiple cartons in a box
  6. Write “cartons” on the front of the box
  7. Mail your cartons to the address below that is closest to where you live:

Altogether Recycling, 645 W 53rd Place, Denver, CO 80216

Firstar Fiber, 10330 “I” Street; Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68127

Tidewater Fiber, 1958 Diamond Hill Road, Chesapeake, VA 23324

Final Thoughts

In this article, we took a quick look at the world of Tetra Pak packaging, also called aseptic cartons or containers.

This type of packaging is found all over the grocery store, from chicken broth to non-dairy milk, to tomatoes. But while the containers often have the recycling symbol on them, many people have asked the question are aseptic containers recyclable?

Sadly, they are not always easily recyclable, despite being marked that way.

But more and more cities are starting to get on board with recycling them. Many cities now allow them with curbside pickup, while others have local drop-off centers.

As a last resort, there are centers you can mail aseptic containers to for recycling.

Photos which require attribution:

Tetra Pak® – Packaged juices by Tetra Pak is licensed under CC2.0