Mississippi liquor laws: What to know about when, where you can buy alcohol, wine, beer

AI-assisted summary
• Mississippi's alcohol laws vary significantly by county, with some being completely dry.
• Beer, wine, and spirits have different regulations and sale locations, with package stores unable to sell beer or light alcoholic beverages.
• While liquor stores are closed on Sundays, on-premise consumption is allowed in designated locations, and beer sales are generally permitted 24/7, subject to local ordinances.
• Although Mississippi currently prohibits wine shipments, a new law effective July 1, 2025, will allow limited direct-to-consumer wine shipping with a 15.5% tax.
• Mississippi is the only state without an open container law, but driving under the influence is prohibited.

Mississippi liquor laws can be confusing, especially for people new to the state or visiting for vacation. Where and when you can buy wine, liquor and beer can depend on the time, day of week and local laws.

Mississippi has 82 counties, which can make for a lot of local ordinances to track. Some counties or cities don't sell booze at all.

According to Alcoholic Beverage Control, 34 counties are listed as dry for beer sales, though most have at least one wet city or town. And 36 are dry for alcohol sales.

Here's what you need to know to navigate buying alcohol in the Magnolia State, including at stores, bars, restaurants, casinos or resorts.

Where can I buy beer, alcohol and wine in Mississippi?

The state handles beer separately from distilled spirits and wine.

Package stores can't sell beer, light wine or light spirits.

Beer with more than 8% alcohol by weight is banned in Mississippi. Wine-based drinks with less than 5% alcohol, like coolers, are called light wine. Spirits-bases drinks with less than 6% alcohol by weight are treated as light spirits.

Convenience and grocery stores can't sell alcoholic beverages. That means wine with more than 5% alcohol and distilled spirits with more than 6%. Those drinks fall under ABC, which is part of the Department of Revenue.

When can I buy alcohol, beer, wine in Mississippi?

Some areas are given resort status by the commissioner, and places with on-site consumption permits in resort areas aren't limited to specific hours of operation limits set for the state. In communities or resort areas with extended hours for alcohol sales, beer sales are the same.

Package stores can be open for business from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday for off-premises drinking only. Sunday sales are prohibited. These stores don't get extended hours in resort areas.

Places for on-site consumption, like bars and restaurants, can sell from 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday.

Can you buy alcohol in Mississippi on Sunday?

Mississippi is one of four states where liquor stores must close on Sunday, including North Carolina and Utah. Texas closes liquor stores but allows grocery and convenience stores to sell beer and wine from 10 a.m. to midnight.

The Magnolia State lets beer be sold for off-site consumption 24/7, but local law could affect the hours it can be sold and whether beer is available on Sundays. Beer sales for on-site consumption are 7 a.m. to midnight every day. Local laws can limit those hours but not extend them.

Three proposals to change Sunday alcohol sales in Mississippi died in committee during the 2025 legislative session: House Bill 92, HB 105 and Senate Bill 2581.

Can I get a drive-thru daiquiri in Mississippi?

Yes. State law allows drive-thru daiquiri and other alcohol sales. Check local ordinances for more information.

A piece of tape over the lid's straw hole counts as a closed container in many jurisdictions.

How do you transport an open container in Mississippi? Can a passenger drink in a car in Mississippi?

Mississippi is the only state without an open container law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In other states, drivers and/or passengers are prohibited from having alcoholic beverages in the passenger portion of the car.

However, the state does prohibit driving while intoxicated. For most drivers, that's a blood alcohol level of 0.08%, but it's 0.04% for commercial drivers and 0.02% for people too young to buy booze legally.

Can I bring alcohol from out of state to Mississippi?

The ABC says the liquor or beer could be confiscated and you might face a fine.

Can I get wine shipped to me from out of state?

No. According to the ABC wine can't be shipped in-state or from out of state, at least not without a permit from the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

But that's about to change.

Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill into law in February that will let each person get 12 cases of wine per year shipped to them. But there are limits. You can only get specialty wines and options not sold in package stores shipped, and there will be a 15.5% tax.

The new law goes into effect July 1, 2025.

Can I buy booze on Christmas, Thanksgiving or New Year's Day?

While blue laws do limit sales on Sundays and on Christmas Day, there aren't restrictions on New Year's Day in most places.

On Christmas Day, package stores can't sell alcohol across the state. But places with sales for on-site consumption, like restaurants, can serve as normal.

State laws are actually pretty friendly to New Year's Eve partying. Across the state, places for on-site consumption can stay open until 1 a.m. New Year's Day, an hour later than normal. If New Year's Eve is on a Sunday, they can open from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Dec. 31 won't fall on a Sunday again until 2028.)

Check out the ABC website for information on alcohol sales for your local town or county. For example, only Cleveland requires package stores to be closed on Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

What about Election Day?

Mississippi does not have special Election Day alcohol restrictions.

Massachusetts and Alaska prevent sales while polls are open on Election Day. Both states reopen sales after polls close.

Did you know some states ban happy hour?

Eight states ban or restrict Happy Hour promotions:

• Alaska.
• Indiana.
• Massachusetts.
• North Carolina.
• Oklahoma.
• Rhode Island.
• Utah.
• Vermont.

Contributing: Grant McLaughlin, Isabelle Butera and Iris Seaton

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.