Toasting to the holidays? Here’s why you won’t see liquor stores open on Christmas Day
In South Carolina it is still outright unlawful to sell alcohol on Christmas Day. So you’ll need to stock up if you want to make a toast over the holiday.
While restaurants can choose to be open on Christmas, the S.C. Code of Laws bans bottled liquor sales on Sunday and Christmas regardless of which day it falls on. Violating this rule can result in a $200 fine or 60 days of jail time.
State lawmakers lifted a ban on election day liquor sales in 2014. As a part of that decision, the law changed to stop sales on Christmas, which had been previously allowed unless the governor issued an executive order.
South Carolina is not alone. Some states outright ban all alcohol sales on the holiday, according to the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Tim Morton, a manager with Myrtle Beach Liquor, said he gets about numerous calls a day heading into Christmas asking for holiday hours, particularly for Christmas Day. His store doesn’t like to close for any reason.
“We stay open for during hurricanes and everything,” Morton said. “The boss prides himself on being the only liquor store open.”
Myrtle Beach Liquor will still sell beer and wine on Christmas Day, but will have to close on a day it would typically be open.
Over at Socastee Spirits, owner Tom Duff said customers don’t expect him to be open on holidays and plan accordingly. While he stayed open for a half day on Thanksgiving, he is fine not being open this one day out of the year.
“Most customers assume we’re closed on holidays. They’re actually kind of surprised when we are open,” Duff said.
The holidays bring an uptick in liquor sales too, Duff said, which makes it easier to lose a business day. He will be open normal hours on Christmas Eve and New Years Day.
Morton hopes to see state leaders let business owners to decide if they want to open. He would prefer to be able to work on Christmas Day.
“My family is in Pennsylvania so I would prefer to stay open and make a few bucks,” he said.
