Tennessee Beer Laws (Sunday Sales, Delivery & Where To Buy)

When you think about how many states there are in the United States and that every single one of them has different laws, it must get confusing trying to figure out what you can and can’t do when you visit each one – especially when it comes to simple, everyday things like drinking or purchasing alcohol.

Many of us can admit we love a nice cold beer in our hand to help us relax, particularly on holiday. But none of us want to be receiving an expensive fine or ending up in a prison cell because we didn’t understand the laws of the state we decided to visit!

In this guide, we will explain the beer laws in Tennessee and make sure you’re fully up-to-date and aware of any potential restrictions on alcohol within the state, so you don’t get caught out.

Are You Allowed To Drink Alcohol In Tennessee?

Technically speaking, within the United States, there aren’t any ‘dry states’, meaning alcohol can be sold in every state within the country and isn’t prohibited or extremely restricted anywhere.

Therefore, you are allowed to consume and purchase alcohol in Tennessee, but there are some exceptions to this rule.

Certain counties within the state have their own laws. Out of 95 counties, 14 are considered to be dry, so they completely prohibit the sale of wine and spirits.

Here is the complete list of Tennessee’s dry counties:

• Crockett County
• Fentress County
• Hancock County
• Houston County
• Johnson County
• Lake County
• Macon County
• Mcnairy County
• Meigs County
• Morgan County
• Pickett County
• Rhea County
• Stewart County
• Union County

To make it even more confusing, these counties actually have what they call ‘wet’ areas within them where alcohol can be sold and consumed – so remember to look out for that!

And another interesting thing is that beer isn’t included in the list of alcoholic beverages that are banned in these dry counties, so convenience stores and gas stations are actually allowed to sell beer within these counties.

Where And At What Time Can You Buy Beer In Tennessee?

In Tennessee, you can still buy beer from all the usual places you can think of due to the fact it isn’t banned, even in the dry counties.

So, bars and restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, package and liquor stores, breweries, and taprooms are all allowed to sell beer.

You can buy beer from bars, restaurants, breweries, and taprooms on any day of the year, but when it comes to gas stations and grocery stores, you aren’t allowed to buy beer from them on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter as they are prohibited from selling it on those particular days.

You may not be able to buy beer from package and liquor stores on these specific days either, but that’s due to the fact they might not open for business on the holidays.

Below is a breakdown of the specific information you need to know about buying beer in each of these places.

Bars And Restaurants

Bars and restaurants are allowed to sell beer from very early till very late, so you’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to quench your thirst!

From Monday through to Saturday, they are legally permitted to sell beer between the hours of 8am to 3am, and 10am to 3am on a Sunday.

Bars are legally required to close at 3am, but some choose to close at around 2am, and bars that are connected to restaurants tend to actually close before midnight.

Gas Stations

Gas stations are allowed to sell packaged beer between 8am and 11pm from Monday through till Saturday and between 10am and 11pm on Sundays.

Grocery Stores

You can buy packaged beer in grocery stores between 8am and 11pm Monday through to Saturday and on Sundays you can buy it between 10am and 11pm.

Package And Liquor Stores

You’re allowed to buy quite a few different things in package and liquor stores compared to other types of stores in Tennessee.

They can legally sell cans, bottles, kegs, and growlers of beer between 8am to 11pm on Monday through till Saturday and 10am to 11pm on a Sunday.

Breweries And Taprooms

Much like package and liquor stores, breweries and taprooms are also allowed to sell cans, bottles, kegs, and growlers of beer.

You can buy them between 8am and 3am from Monday through till Saturday and between 10am and 3am on Sundays.

However, it’s worth noting that many breweries and taprooms shut before midnight, so even though they legally have a license to sell beer until 3am, they may well be closed before that.

Can Beer Be Delivered To You In Tennessee?

It is legal for retail stores to deliver beer in Tennessee, but only under certain conditions, which are outlined by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) Board (the state licensing authority for manufacturers).

These are some important laws for the delivery of alcohol in Tennessee:

• The delivery has to be made only to the physical address provided by the person who placed the order.
• A verification of delivery must be signed by the person receiving the order for documentation purposes.
• Alcoholic beverages can only be ordered and delivered during approved hours of sale.
• The recipient’s ID must be checked to make sure they are over 21 years-old.
• Services that solely deliver alcohol, such as Drizly or Minibar, are allowed.

These alcohol delivery laws are essentially in place so that the sale of alcohol can be tracked and to ensure standard practice is being carried out so that everything is being conducted in a legal manner.

What Is The Minimum Drinking Age In Tennessee?

You have to be 21 years-old in Tennessee to purchase and consume alcohol and, unlike some states, you’re not even allowed to drink at home between the age of 18 and 20 with a parent or legal guardian supervising you – you absolutely have to be 21 in all instances to consume alcohol.

It’s a legal requirement for anyone who sells alcohol to examine the ID of the individual they’re selling to if they don’t reasonably look like they’re 50 years-old or over.

The ID being shown must be photo identification issued by the government, such as a passport or driving license.

It is also illegal for individuals under 21 to attempt to purchase alcohol, for example with a fake ID. In this case, you could be hit with a fine of at least $50, and it could even be as much as $200.

On top of this, a judge could suspend your license for as long as a year, and you could even face five to 30 days in prison for it.

Anyone under the age of 21 in possession of alcohol is punished by the state by suspending their license.

The law is that, if it’s your first offense, your license will be suspended for either one year or up until you are 17 years-old – it depends on which one is longer.

After your second offense, your license will be suspended for two years or up until you’re 18 years-old – again, depending on which is longer.

Also, if you’re of legal age to buy alcohol and purchase it specifically for someone under 21, you will get fined between $25 and $500 and will have to complete 100 hours of community service.

Added to this, you may also face having your driving license suspended.

What Are The Driving And Drinking Laws In Tennessee?

As you might expect, it is illegal to drive under the influence (DUI) of alcohol in Tennessee. If you drive with a Breath Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, it violates the state’s alcohol laws.

The specific penalties you may receive depend on the situation of each case and on the judge, but below is a list of the punishments you could expect to receive for your first, second, third and fourth DUIs.

First DUI

• You will be put in jail between 48 hours and just over 11 months – if you are over 0.20% BAC you can expect prison time for at least seven days in a row.
• Your license will be revoked for one year.
• You must participate in an alcohol treatment program.
• You have to pay compensation to anyone you’ve caused to suffer injury or loss.
• You must have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle after your license has been reinstated.

Second DUI

• You will go to jail for 45 days to 11 months.
• You will be fined between $600 and $3,500.
• Your license will be revoked for two years.
• You must participate in an alcohol treatment program.
• You have to pay compensation to anyone you’ve caused to suffer injury or loss.
• Your vehicle could be seized at the judge’s discretion.
• You must have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle after your license has been reinstated.
• If you have two DUIs in the space of five years, you are required to have the ignition interlock device for six months after your license is reinstated.

Third DUI

• You will go to jail for 120 days to 11 months.
• You will be fined between $1,100 and $10,000.
• Your license will be revoked for six years.
• You must participate in an alcohol treatment program.
• Your vehicle could be seized at the judge’s discretion.
• You must have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle after your license has been reinstated.
• If you have two DUIs in the space of five years, you are required to have the ignition interlock device for six months after your license has been reinstated.

Fourth DUI

• You will go to jail for at least a year, and you have to serve at least 150 days in a row.
• You will be fined between $3,000 and $15,000.
• Your license will be revoked for eight years.
• You must complete an alcohol treatment program.
• Your vehicle could be seized at the judge’s discretion.
• You must have an ignition interlock device on your vehicle after your license is reinstated.
• If you have two DUIs in the space of five years, you are required to have the ignition interlock device for six months after your license has been reinstated.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are some strict laws surrounding the purchase, sales, and consumption of beer in Tennessee. By following these laws, you shouldn’t come into any trouble.

And, when it comes to driving, be safe and don’t drive once you’ve had a drink!

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Andrew Carr

Hi, I’m Andrew Carr and I find beer fascinating. Not just drinking it (although that is a plus!) but everything about it. There is so much to learn - the fermenting process, the best glasses for each type, recipes to make at home… The list goes on!

I have been making my own beer for almost a decade now and I pride myself on my home setup. I’ve made sours, pale IPAs, stouts - you name it, I’ve probably made it in the comfort of my own home.

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