What Time Does Walmart Sell Alcohol? The Complete Guide
Walmart is the largest retailer in the United States, with over 4,700 stores across the country. In addition to groceries, electronics, home goods, and just about everything else, most Walmart stores also sell alcohol. But the hours and days that Walmart sells beer, wine, and spirits vary significantly depending on your location.
To help clarify Walmart‘s alcohol sales policies, we‘ve put together this comprehensive guide with everything you need to know. We‘ll cover what days and times Walmart sells alcohol in different states, restrictions on the types of alcohol you can buy, how to order alcohol from Walmart online, and more.
Walmart‘s General Alcohol Sales Policy
In most Walmart stores across the country that sell alcohol, the hours of sale are 7 AM to 2 AM Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, alcohol sales typically start later in the day, around noon or 1 pm, and end earlier, around 8 PM or 9 PM.
However, this is just a general policy, and the actual hours vary quite a bit based on local and state laws. According to the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, there are 17 states that directly control the sale of distilled spirits and, in some cases, wine and beer through government agencies at the wholesale level. These states have stricter rules around the hours and days of sale for alcohol.
Many states also have laws called "blue laws" which forbid the sale of alcohol on Sundays and certain holidays. Walmart must abide by these state and local restrictions. Some counties are completely "dry" and prohibit the sale of alcohol altogether, so Walmart cannot sell alcoholic beverages at all in its stores in these areas.
Walmart Alcohol Sales Hours by State
To give you a better sense of when you can buy alcohol at Walmart across the country, here is a breakdown of Walmart‘s alcohol sales hours in various states, grouped into some common categories:
States where Walmart sells alcohol 7 days a week with minimal restrictions:
- California: 6 am to 2 am
- Nevada: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Florida: 7 am to 12 am
- New Jersey: 9 am to 10 pm
- Wisconsin: 6 am to 9 pm
States where Walmart alcohol sales are restricted or banned on Sundays:
- Texas: Monday-Saturday 7 am to 12 am, Sunday 12 pm to 12 am
- New York: Monday-Saturday 8 am to 12 am, Sunday 12 pm to 9 pm
- Colorado: Monday-Saturday 8 am to 12 am, Sunday 8 am to 6 pm
- Pennsylvania: Monday-Saturday 9 am to 10 pm, no sales on Sunday
- Utah: No alcohol sales at Walmart on Sundays. Monday-Saturday 11:30 am to 10 pm.
States with unique alcohol laws impacting Walmart:
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Oklahoma: In 2018, alcohol laws changed to allow 6 am to 2 am sales of beer and wine at places like Walmart. Previously, only 3.2% ABV beer was allowed to be sold.
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Indiana: Walmart can sell beer, wine, and liquor Monday-Saturday 7 am to 3 am, Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm. Indiana recently changed its laws to allow Sunday sales.
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Connecticut: Beer can be sold at Walmart Monday-Saturday 7 am to 10 pm, Sunday 10 am to 6 pm. No wine or liquor is allowed to be sold at grocery stores.
As you can see, the hours that Walmart sells alcohol vary quite significantly from state to state. A good rule of thumb is that alcohol sales will start between 6-8 AM and end between 9 PM and 2 AM in most states, with earlier cutoff times on Sundays. But it‘s always best to check your local Walmart for exact hours.
Types of Alcohol Sold at Walmart
While known for its wide product selection, Walmart actually faces more restrictions on the types of alcohol it can sell compared to dedicated liquor stores. In most states, Walmart is only allowed to sell beer and wine, not liquor.
Only 31 states allow grocery stores like Walmart to sell spirits. These include Nevada, California, Florida, and other states known for relatively relaxed alcohol laws. But even in those states, many Walmart stores choose not to sell liquor and only offer beer and wine due to the extra licensing requirements involved.
So in the majority of Walmart stores, you‘ll only find beer and wine available for purchase, not harder alcohol like vodka, whiskey, rum, etc. The beer selection usually includes major domestic brands like Bud Light, Coors, Miller, craft beers, imports, and Walmart‘s own discount private label beers. The wine assortment spans the major varietal and regions, from California cabernets to French rosés.
How to Order Alcohol from Walmart Online
Like many other major retailers, Walmart allows customers to shop online for alcohol where permitted and either have it delivered or pick it up themselves in-store. Some things to know about ordering alcohol from Walmart:
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You must be 21 years of age and verify this at checkout to place an alcohol order. You also have to present a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are over 21 when picking up the order or accepting delivery.
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Alcohol delivery is available from 1,500 Walmart stores in nearly 200 cities, so this option is expanding but not yet available everywhere. Check if your address is eligible for delivery when placing an order.
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If choosing curbside pickup, you must enter the store to show your ID and have your order brought to your car. It cannot be picked up at the normal grocery pickup spots.
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There are limits on the quantity of alcohol you can purchase in a single transaction, both online and in-store, that vary by state. For example, in Florida, the limit for an online alcohol order is 15 gallons.
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In some states like Texas, you can only have alcohol orders delivered to your home, not to the Walmart store or any other pickup location.
The ability to order alcohol from Walmart online for delivery or pickup adds a level of convenience, but as you can see, there are quite a few restrictions involved that vary depending on your location. Still, it can save time versus browsing the store shelves in person.
Economic Impact of Walmart Alcohol Sales
Alcohol sales make up a sizeable chunk of Walmart‘s annual revenue, though the company does not disclose the exact figures. Estimates from market research firms peg it in the range of $5-7 billion per year across beer, wine, and spirits.
Having alcohol in most of its stores helps drive foot traffic to Walmart and gives shoppers an added reason to choose it over competitors that may not sell alcohol, like Aldi or Costco. Impulse purchases of beer and wine likely drive up the average order value at Walmart.
Walmart is the single largest beer retailer in America, with about an 8% market share. It uses its huge scale to negotiate low prices from suppliers, allowing it to sell many brands of beer under cost as a loss leader to pull people into stores. Walmart was also an early adopter of private label beers to hit an even lower price point.
On a local level, the economic impact of Walmart selling alcohol can be more mixed. Some studies have shown that Walmart‘s entry into a local market reduces the prices that dedicated liquor stores can charge. Small businesses like liquor stores also often can‘t match Walmart‘s selection and low operating costs.
At the same time, the presence of a Walmart can boost alcohol sales overall in an area by offering lower prices and making beer and wine more readily available. And in states with restrictive alcohol laws, the addition of a Walmart that can sell beer and wine gives consumers an alternative to state-run liquor stores with limited hours.
Training and Responsible Sales Practices
Selling alcohol comes with extra responsibilities for retailers to prevent sales to underage individuals and intoxicated customers. Walmart takes this duty seriously and has robust training and compliance programs in place.
All associates involved in alcohol sales, from cashiers to stockers to managers, have to complete mandatory training upon hiring and renew it each year. This includes modules on properly checking IDs, handling difficult situations like refusing a sale, and recognizing signs of intoxication.
Walmart also uses cash register prompts to remind associates to check IDs on all alcohol purchases and has strict limits around how old an ID can be. Failure to verify age can result in individual fines for the associate, penalties for the store, and even suspension of its liquor license in serious or repeat cases.
Some Walmart critics argue that the retailer‘s focus on fast checkout and lean staffing make it harder for associates to catch fake IDs and properly deny sales. There have been isolated incidents of Walmart stores being penalized for selling to minors. But overall, Walmart‘s compliance rate in identifying underage alcohol sales is consistently over 90% in third-party mystery shopper checks.
In addition to legal compliance, many Walmart stores partner with advocacy groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving on awareness campaigns around responsible drinking. Supporting these causes helps reinforce Walmart‘s status as a responsible corporate citizen.
The Future of Alcohol at Walmart
Customer demand for a one-stop shopping experience that includes alcohol is likely to keep Walmart focused on responsible beer, wine, and spirit sales as a core part of its business. If anything, the retailer is looking to expand its presence in the category.
Walmart recently launched a chain of liquor stores called Walmart Liquors in several states. These stores are adjacent to Walmart Supercenters but have separate entrances. They sell a wider assortment of alcohol than the typical Walmart store and have dedicated staff with special training.
The retailer also continues to add alcohol delivery from more stores each year and is expanding its online selection and availability. Alcohol ecommerce is a fast-growing segment, and Walmart wants to ensure it captures a healthy share of this business.
At the same time, Walmart must continue to navigate the patchwork of alcohol laws across different states and jurisdictions. As some states consider loosening restrictions on alcohol sales in grocery stores, Walmart could stand to benefit and further expand its alcohol footprint. The company frequently lobbies on these issues through its government relations team and trade associations.
One thing is clear: alcohol sales will remain an integral part of Walmart‘s retail strategy for the foreseeable future. And as long as people want to be able to pick up a six-pack or bottle of wine along with their groceries, Walmart will be there to meet that need – within the hours and days that local laws allow, of course.
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