Tennessee Liquor Stores Closed on Easter Sunday

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Tennessee is one of the few states that prohibits the sale of wine and liquor on Easter Sunday, though beer sales are still permitted. This legal technicality allows grocery and convenience stores to sell beer, while standalone liquor stores must remain closed for the holiday. The state also restricts alcohol sales on Thanksgiving and Christmas, though bars and restaurants can still serve drinks on Easter.

Why it matters

Tennessee's 'dry holiday' laws on Easter Sunday reflect the state's historically conservative approach to alcohol sales and consumption. While the restrictions may seem outdated to some, they highlight the complex patchwork of alcohol regulations that vary widely across the United States, even within the same state.

The details

According to Tennessee state code, 'alcoholic beverages' which include wine, liquor, and high-alcohol beer are prohibited from being sold on Easter Sunday. However, regular beer under 8% alcohol by weight is classified separately and can still be purchased at grocery and convenience stores. Liquor stores, on the other hand, must remain closed. The same restrictions apply on Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. While bars and restaurants can still serve alcohol on Easter, retail alcohol sales are off-limits for the day.

• Easter Sunday falls on April 5 this year.
• The last time Easter was on April 5 was in 2015.
• The next time Easter will fall on April 5 is in 2037.

What’s next

With Easter falling on a Sunday this year, Tennessee residents will need to plan ahead and stock up on wine and liquor before the holiday, as standalone liquor stores will be closed on April 5th.