ABC liquor store hours in SC for the Christmas holiday season. What to know

If you’re planning to celebrate the holidays with liquor this year, you’ll need to stock up before Christmas Day.

“Retail Liquor Store license holders must be closed on Sundays and Christmas Day,” Department of Revenue public information officer Robert Walden told The Sun News in an interview.

While South Carolina state law bans liquor sales on Christmas Day, on all other holidays — like Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — sales are permitted, so long as they don’t fall on a Sunday.

For a first offense, a liquor merchant will be fined $200 or imprisoned for 60 days. On the second conviction, the penalty increases to $1,000 or a year in prison, and for subsequent offenses result in a $2,000 fine or two years’ imprisonment.

However there are two ways to legally buy alcohol on Christmas Day.

On-premises consumption

If you’re craving a hot buttered rum for Christmas, you can drink liquor at a licensed establishment. Businesses like restaurants, bars and hotels can obtain a Liquor by the Drink License that allows them to sell alcoholic liquor for on-premises consumption, including on Christmas Day.

In jurisdictions that have passed referendums allowing Sunday sales, these license holders can sell liquor for on-premises consumption on Sundays, as well.

“This exception doesn’t apply to Retail Liquor Store license holders because there is no law allowing for a referendum for Retail Liquor Stores to be open on Sunday,” Walden said.

Beer and wine

If you’re not partial to liquor, you can also purchase non-liquor alcoholic beverages on Christmas Day.

While state law requires liquor stores to close on Christmas, sales of beer and wine for on- or off-premises consumption is permitted. This means that you can purchase beer or wine at a restaurant or take it home from a store.

Still, as major South Carolina grocery stores will be closed on Christmas Day, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for your holiday celebrations.

This story was originally published December 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM.