Is alcohol legal in Rhode Island?

Q: Is alcohol legal in Rhode Island?

Alcohol in Rhode Island is legal only under specific conditions. Rhode Island is not a control state, but retail is tightly restricted: beer, wine and spirits for off-premise sale are sold only at licensed package (liquor) stores. Grocery and convenience stores do not sell beer or wine, apart from limited grandfathered exceptions.

Back

RHODE ISLAND · ALCOHOL

Alcohol

Alcohol laws change at state, county and city lines.Track them in the free LawLert iPhone app: it alerts you when you cross into a state where they differ, or into a dry county where LawLert has the local rule, and when they change in your state. No account.Get the app

Conditional: Rhode Island is not a control state, but retail is tightly restricted: beer, wine and spirits for off-premise sale are sold only at licensed package (liquor) stores.

Conditional

Summary

Rhode Island is not a control state, but retail is tightly restricted: beer, wine and spirits for off-premise sale are sold only at licensed package (liquor) stores. Grocery and convenience stores do not sell beer or wine, apart from limited grandfathered exceptions.

Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov → · Updated July 23, 2026

Rhode Island Alcohol topics

DUI / DWI Limits in Rhode Island →Info
In Rhode Island a DUI/DWI is 0.08% blood alcohol or higher for adults 21 and older (per se), the limit for drivers under 21 is 0.02%, and commercial drivers are limited to 0.04.
Open Container Law in Rhode Island →Restricted
Rhode Island prohibits driving with an unsealed or open alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a vehicle, and the ban covers the driver and passengers.
Sunday Alcohol Sales in Rhode Island →Conditional
Rhode Island limits Sunday sales: off-premises liquor stores (Class A licensees) may open no earlier than 10 a.m. and must close by 6 p.m. on Sunday, except that when the following Monday is a holiday they may stay open until 9 p.m. that Sunday.
Last Call Hours in Rhode Island →Info
In Rhode Island, last call is 1 a.m., though Providence allows 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Beer & Wine in Grocery Stores in Rhode Island →Restricted
Rhode Island does not allow beer, wine or spirits to be sold in groceries or convenience stores — all three are sold only in licensed package or liquor stores.
Where to Buy Alcohol in Rhode Island →Conditional
Rhode Island is not a control state, but retail is tightly restricted: beer, wine and spirits for off-premise sale are sold only at licensed package (liquor) stores.

Other Rhode Island laws

Alcohol in nearby states

Browse all state laws →

Don't get caught off guardCross into a state where this law is different and the free iPhone app tells you what changed, even with the app closed. It also alerts you when a law you track changes where you live. No account.Get the free app