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Virginia Beer & Wine in Grocery Stores (2026)

Permitted: In Virginia, groceries and convenience stores sell beer and wine in closed containers, but spirits are sold only in Virginia ABC stores.

PermittedVerified Jul 28, 2026

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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.

Official source: abc.virginia.gov →

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

Beer & Wine in Grocery Stores in states bordering Virginia

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

District of ColumbiaPermitted
In the District of Columbia, full-service grocery stores sell beer and wine from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, but spirits require a liquor store.
Verified Jun 5, 2026 · Source: abca.dc.gov · Full District of Columbia rule →
KentuckyConditional
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.
Verified Jul 28, 2026 · Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →
MarylandRestricted
Maryland generally bars grocery chains from selling beer or wine — Talbot County is the main exception, plus a small number of grandfathered store licenses elsewhere. Plan on dedicated beer, wine and liquor stores.
Verified Jun 7, 2026 · Source: atcc.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
North CarolinaPermitted
In North Carolina, groceries and convenience stores sell beer and wine — but not spirits, and even beer and wine sales are subject to county or municipal local-option approval. Spirits are sold only in ABC stores, because no North Carolina retail permit authorizes spirituous liquor.
Verified Jul 28, 2026 · Source: abc.nc.gov · Full North Carolina 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 →
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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