Costco sells liquor in South Carolina. You can find various spirits, wines, and alcoholic drinks at a Costco store. In South Carolina, alcohol sales are regulated. Costco must follow these regulations.
Key Regulations
Key liquor laws in South Carolina include:
- Legal drinking age is 21 years.
- Open container of alcohol in a vehicle is illegal, even if empty.
To purchase alcohol at Costco you must be a member and follow payment, identification rules when ordering alcohol.
Overview of Blue Laws and Other States’ Regulations
Overall, Blue Laws aim to keep Sundays as days of rest and religious observance in South Carolina. They also prevent unfair business competition. Costco lets you return most alcohol within 90 days with the receipt. The exact policy varies by state.
For comparison, Alabama Costcos sell beer, wine and liquor, but you can only buy hard liquor during separate warehouse hours. In Arizona, all Arizonans can buy affordable alcohol at Costco without a membership. Arkansas Costcos sell beer and wine to members in the main warehouse, but non-members can also buy liquor. In California, you only need to tell Costco workers you want to buy alcohol; they’ll let in non-members for that purpose. Moreover, in Colorado, you can check out a map showing the alcohol sales rules.
Some states don’t have a Costco, and Pennsylvania Costcos don’t sell any beer, wine or liquor. Certain states allow beer and wine purchases without a membership.
When South Carolina prohibited alcohol statewide in 1915, Charleston residents did some serious drinking on New Year’s Eve. It’s illegal and unhealthy for anyone under 21 to drink alcohol in the state. Adults cannot provide alcohol to minors, even with parental consent.
Texas law allows private retailers to sell liquor. Their prices are frequently lower than other stores too. What they offer simply depends on local laws.
Retail and Grocery Store Liquor Sales in South Carolina
Liquor stores are permitted to sell to customers from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. You can visit a grocery or convenience store and buy beer or wine 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday. Certain counties have passed referendums that permit alcohol sales on Sundays.
Retail sale of liquor statewide is permitted from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday–Saturday. Counties and cities may hold referendums to allow Sunday sales of beer and wine only. It is illegal in South Carolina to have an open container of beer, wine, or liquor in a motor vehicle.
Walmart stores sell liquor in states where such sales are allowed by the law. It is illegal for retailers to sell spirits in grocery stores – only wine and beer are allowed. Liquor retail stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
In North Carolina, grocery and convenience stores sell beer and wine. It is prohibited to sell alcohol between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.
Places to buy beer in South Carolina include bars, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, breweries, and taprooms.
Alcohol Sales Specifics in South Carolina
Costco, like other retailers, must adhere to these regulations. Here are key liquor laws:
- Minimum Drinking Age is 21 years.
- Purchasing alcoholic beverages on Sundays is not permitted in South Carolina except for on-premises consumption within restaurants and bars.
- Grocery, liquor and convenience stores must remain closed Sundays.
The earliest alcohol can be sold for on-site drinking is 9 a.m., and the latest is until 2 a.m. South Carolina has no dry counties. Despite having lower alcohol content than other drinks, there are still laws to follow if you want to drink beer in South Carolina. Sundays are subject to local law.
The sale of packaged liquor is prohibited on Sunday in some areas. Packaged beer and wine may be sold at any time on Sundays, if counties or cities vote to allow it, from 10 a.m. There is a 15% abv limit on beer. It’s illegal for anyone under 21 to drink alcohol in South Carolina.