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Kentucky Beer & Wine in Grocery Stores (2026)

Conditional: In Kentucky, groceries and gas stations may sell beer only — not wine and not spirits — and many counties are dry or "moist," so check locally.

ConditionalVerified Jul 28, 2026

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In Kentucky, groceries and gas stations may sell beer only — not wine and not spirits — and many counties are dry or "moist," so check locally. KRS 243.230(5) bars a quota package license at any premises where a substantial part of the business (10% or more of monthly gross sales) is staple groceries or gasoline. That is why Kentucky supermarkets have a physically separate attached liquor store.

Official source: apps.legislature.ky.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Beer & Wine in Grocery Stores in states bordering Kentucky

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IllinoisPermitted
In Illinois, groceries and convenience stores sell all three — beer, wine and spirits — because the state retailer's license carries no product-class limit, but local rules still apply. A local liquor license from the municipal or county commissioner is also required, and Illinois permits local-option dry precincts and locally set hours.
Verified Jul 28, 2026 · Source: ilga.gov · Full Illinois rule →
IndianaPermitted
In Indiana, groceries sell beer and wine, and spirits too. There are no Sunday spirit sales at groceries, and cold-beer rules favor package stores.
Verified Jun 5, 2026 · Source: in.gov · Full Indiana rule →
MissouriPermitted
In Missouri, groceries, convenience stores and gas stations all sell beer, wine and spirits.
Verified Aug 2, 2026 · Source: atc.dps.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
OhioPermitted
In Ohio, groceries and convenience stores sell beer in sealed containers (a C-1 permit) and wine plus mixed beverages of up to 21% alcohol by volume (C-2), while spirits come from state contract agency stores. Those agency stores are often inside a supermarket and may sell spirits only between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Verified Jul 28, 2026 · Source: com.ohio.gov · Full Ohio rule →
TennesseePermitted
In Tennessee, groceries and convenience stores sell beer, and they can sell wine only with a retail food store wine license — spirits are package-store only, and dry counties persist. That wine license requires at least 1,200 square feet, at least 20% of taxable sales from food, and a jurisdiction that approved wine sales by local-option election. Wine hours run from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, and Sunday sales have been allowed only since 1 Jan 2019.
Verified Jul 28, 2026 · Source: tn.gov · Full Tennessee rule →
VirginiaPermitted
In Virginia, groceries and convenience stores sell beer and wine in closed containers, but spirits are sold only in Virginia ABC stores. A parallel convenience-grocery license carries the same privilege.
Verified Jul 28, 2026 · Source: abc.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
West VirginiaPermitted
In West Virginia, groceries and convenience stores sell beer and wine, and spirits are sold privately — though not at groceries on Sunday.
Verified Aug 2, 2026 · Source: code.wvlegislature.gov · Full West Virginia rule →

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