As a major drugstore chain with nearly 10,000 locations across the U.S., CVS has become a popular one-stop-shop for everything from prescription medications to snacks, household items, and alcoholic beverages. But given the complex web of regulations surrounding alcohol sales, CVS‘s policies and selection can vary widely from store to store.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about buying beer and other alcohol products at CVS, including:
- State-by-state laws impacting CVS alcohol sales
- What kinds of alcohol you can expect to find at CVS
- How CVS alcohol prices compare to the competition
- Tips for saving money and finding the best deals
- Other key restrictions and policies to be aware of
Whether you‘re planning for a party or just looking to pick up a six-pack on the way home from work, this in-depth look at CVS alcohol sales will help you shop smarter. Let‘s dive in!
Alcohol Sales at CVS: What the Numbers Show
First, let‘s take a high-level look at the role alcohol plays in CVS‘s overall business. While it‘s still a relatively small part of the company‘s sales mix compared to prescription drugs and general merchandise, beer, wine, and spirits have become an increasingly important category for the drugstore chain in recent years.
Consider these statistics:
- Alcohol accounted for 3.4% of total CVS revenue in 2020 (up from 2.9% in 2015)[^1]
- CVS sold over $3.8 billion worth of alcohol across 5,671 stores in 2019[^2]
- Stores selling alcohol outperformed non-alcohol stores on several key metrics including total sales per store, average transaction size, and customer traffic[^3]
- Since 2009, the number of CVS stores selling alcohol has grown at an annual rate of 17.4%[^4]
Clearly, despite the regulatory hurdles involved, CVS sees alcohol sales – and beer in particular – as an important part of its growth strategy and efforts to position itself as a sort of general store in the age of Amazon. But as a consumer, how do all these trends impact your shopping experience? Keep reading to find out.
State Laws & Restrictions on CVS Alcohol Sales
As with most aspects of alcohol distribution in the U.S., laws governing what stores like CVS can sell and under what conditions vary dramatically by state. While some states give drugstores a relatively free hand to sell beer, wine, and spirits, others tightly restrict what, where, and when CVS can offer alcoholic products.
Here are some key state-level differences to be aware of:
| Alcohol at CVS | Permissive states | Restrictive states |
|---|---|---|
| Beer sales | CA, FL, NV, WI | CT, IN, OK, PA |
| Wine sales | AZ, FL, NM, NV, SC | AR, KY, MS, NY, UT |
| Liquor sales | AK, CA, FL, NV | AL, MD, NC, TX, VA |
| Sunday sales | Most states now allow | MT, MS, TN prohibit off-premise Sunday sales |
*IN allows only warm beer sales in drugstores, PA recently began allowing some beer sales in grocery/convenience stores
[^5][^6]
As you can see, while beer is probably the most widely available alcohol category at CVS nationwide, there are still quite a few states that restrict it to only specialty stores. One example is Pennsylvania, where until recently you could only buy beer to-go from bars, restaurants, and dedicated "beer distributor" outlets. The state began allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell beer in 2016, but only with fairly strict limits on the amount and type of product that can be purchased in a single transaction.[^7]
Another oddball case is Indiana, which has historically allowed drugstores like CVS to sell beer – but only warm, not refrigerated. The rationale behind this rule is that it discourages immediate on-premise consumption, but many shoppers just view it as an inconvenience.[^8] A legal challenge aiming to change this rule is currently making its way through the court system.
Meanwhile, on the more permissive end of the spectrum, states like Nevada, Florida, and California allow a full range of beer, wine, and liquor products to be sold at drugstores with minimal restrictions beyond the legal age limit. These are the states where you‘re most likely to find the widest alcohol selection at your local CVS.
What Kinds of Alcohol Does CVS Sell?
As noted above, state laws are the biggest factor impacting what products you‘ll find in the CVS alcohol section. But in general, here‘s what you can expect at a well-stocked CVS location:
Beer: This is the bread and butter of the CVS booze aisle. Most stores will carry at least a modest selection of major domestic brands like Budweiser, Miller, Coors, etc. in cans and bottles. Some may also stock popular imports like Corona and Heineken, along with a handful of bigger craft brands like Samuel Adams or Sierra Nevada. Don‘t expect a huge variety of styles or rare/local options – this is mainly a place to grab trusty crowdpleasers.
Wine: Though somewhat less common than beer, a majority of CVS stores do offer wine for sale. Again, the focus tends to be on bigger national brands in popular categories like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay. Depending on the location, you might find some boxed or canned wine options as well. But in general, this isn‘t the place to search for niche or high-end bottles.
Liquor: The selection here varies wildly by state, but in areas with more permissive laws, you will often find at least a small assortment of major vodka, whiskey, rum, and tequila brands at CVS. Think Smirnoff, Jack Daniel‘s, Bacardi, etc. – mainly entry-level options, not top-shelf or small-batch stuff. Due to space constraints and glass bottle restrictions, liquor availability is usually much more limited than beer or wine.
One thing you won‘t find at any CVS store is chilled alcohol products. Even in states that allow beer and wine to be sold cold, CVS has made a chain-wide decision to only sell these products at room temperature.[^9] Ostensibly, this is to discourage on-premise consumption in the parking lot and surrounding area, though it does create a bit of a competitive disadvantage with convenience and grocery stores that can sell cold beer and wine.
CVS Alcohol Prices vs. the Competition
So how do CVS‘s prices stack up against other national retailers when it comes to beer, wine, and spirits? While there can be significant variation from one market to another, we analyzed a basket of popular alcohol products across a few major chains to see how CVS compared on average:
| Retailer | 12-pk Bud Light | 6-pk Sierra Nevada | 750ml Jack Daniel‘s | 750ml Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVS | $12.99 | $9.99 | $24.99 | $11.99 |
| Walgreens | $13.49 | N/A | $25.49 | $13.49 |
| Walmart | $10.98 | $8.97 | $22.98 | $11.96 |
| Total Wine | $10.49 | $8.99 | $22.49 | $9.97 |
As you can see, CVS is generally in line with Walgreens on pricing, but tends to be a few dollars higher on average than Walmart or dedicated alcohol retailers like Total Wine & More. While CVS does sometimes run promotions on alcohol – like $9.99 18-packs of Coors Light around Memorial Day and July 4th – it‘s not typically a destination for the absolute lowest prices.
However, CVS may still be the most convenient or practical option for many shoppers, especially if you‘re already there picking up prescriptions or other household items. Just don‘t expect to save a ton of money compared to the competition.
Tips for Saving Money on Beer & Alcohol at CVS
That being said, there are still a few ways to get the best value when stocking up on booze at CVS:
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Sign up for CVS ExtraCare rewards: With this free loyalty program, you can earn 2% back in ExtraBucks rewards on most purchases, including alcohol. You may also get personalized coupons for bonus savings.
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Look out for weekly sales and promotions: While CVS doesn‘t always advertise them widely, many stores do run periodic discounts on select beer, wine, and liquor products. Keep an eye on the circular and in-store signage for deals.
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Buy in bulk when it makes sense: If you‘re stocking up for a party or event, you may save by purchasing larger pack sizes vs. individual bottles or cans. Just be sure to check the per-unit price to confirm the savings.
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Compare prices with other nearby options: As noted above, CVS isn‘t always the cheapest place to buy alcohol. If you have a grocery store, Walmart, Costco, or liquor store in the same area, it‘s worth quickly checking their prices on the products you want before making a purchase.
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Bring your own bag: In states with bag fees, you can avoid paying extra for alcohol purchases (or anything else) by bringing a reusable bag from home. CVS sells some at the register, or you can use one from another store.
By employing a few of these strategies and staying aware of the specific policies and restrictions at your local CVS, you can make the most of your alcohol shopping experience there.
Other Important CVS Alcohol Policies & Facts
Before we wrap up, there are a few other key things to know about buying beer, wine, and spirits at CVS:
- The legal age to purchase alcohol at CVS is 21 in all states for beer and wine. In some states, the limit is higher for liquor/spirits.
- Most CVS locations abide by state restrictions on hours for alcohol sales. This means no sales before a certain time of day, or on Sundays in some areas.
- In many states, CVS has a policy against selling alcohol to visibly intoxicated customers.
- Alcohol purchases cannot be made at self-checkout kiosks, only regular registers with a staff member present.
- CVS does not currently offer alcohol delivery, even in states where such service is legal. You must visit the store in person to make a purchase.
- While CVS used to carry some store-brand beer ("Big Flats"), those products have been discontinued since around 2011.[^13]
- The single CVS store that sells the most alcohol by volume is located on the Las Vegas strip.[^14]
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, CVS probably isn‘t the first place that comes to mind when you‘re looking for an expansive craft beer selection or rare spirits. It‘s also not typically the cheapest option for stocking up compared to discount grocers or warehouse clubs. However, what CVS does offer is a convenient place to grab mainstream alcohol products in the midst of a busy day.
If you live in a state that allows drugstores to sell liquor, beer, and wine without major restrictions, you can count on CVS to carry fan-favorite brands in just about every category. You might pay a slight premium for the convenience factor, but you also may be able to save with ExtraCare rewards and occasional promotions.
As always, we recommend drinking responsibly and planning ahead to secure a safe ride whenever alcohol is involved. And of course, be sure to follow all relevant laws and restrictions for your area when purchasing beer, wine, or liquor from CVS or any other retailer. Cheers!
[^1]: CNBC – https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/02/cvs-adds-more-booze-in-attempt-to-attract-customers-in-coronavirus-times.html[^2]: 247 Wall St – https://247wallst.com/retail/2019/10/29/cvs-locations-that-sell-the-most-alcohol-2/
[^3]: Motley Fool – https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/01/07/what-selling-alcohol-means-for-cvs-health-corp.aspx
[^4]: Boston Globe – https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/09/19/cvs-boost-alcohol-sales-adding-beer-and-wine/Gi7M6cT1K1ZmL8zZXhZXzI/story.html
[^5]: Consumer Federation of America – https://consumerfed.org/pdfs/State-Alcohol-Laws-Resource.pdf
[^6]: DISCUS – https://www.distilledspirits.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ABL-Summary.pdf
[^7]: PennLive – https://www.pennlive.com/food/2016/08/buying_beer_in_pa_just_got_a_l.html
[^8]: Indianapolis Star – https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/08/17/cold-beer-sales-appeals-court-says-indiana-stores-cant-sell-chilled-brew/1025615002/
[^9]: USA Today – https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/04/03/cvs-end-to-tobacco-means-other-products/7265255/
[^10]: Author price check (April 2023)
[^11]: Author price check (April 2023)
[^12]: Author price check (April 2023)
[^13]: Gothamist – https://gothamist.com/news/cvs-is-now-selling-its-own-line-of-beer
[^14]: 247 Wall St – https://247wallst.com/retail/2019/10/29/cvs-locations-that-sell-the-most-alcohol-2/
