Is alcohol legal in Tennessee?

Q: Is alcohol legal in Tennessee?

Alcohol in Tennessee is legal only under specific conditions. Tennessee is not a control state — both wholesale and retail are private: spirits and wine are sold at private package (liquor) stores, while beer and, since 2016, wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores. The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission is the regulator.

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TENNESSEE · ALCOHOL

Alcohol

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Conditional: Tennessee is not a control state — both wholesale and retail are private: spirits and wine are sold at private package (liquor) stores, while beer and, since 2016, wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores.

Conditional

Summary

Tennessee is not a control state — both wholesale and retail are private: spirits and wine are sold at private package (liquor) stores, while beer and, since 2016, wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores. The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission is the regulator.

Source: tn.gov → · Updated July 23, 2026

Tennessee Alcohol topics

DUI / DWI Limits in Tennessee →Info
In Tennessee the per se limit for adults is 0.08% blood alcohol, and drivers under 21 are held to a zero-tolerance limit of 0.02%.
Open Container Law in Tennessee →Restricted
Tennessee's open-container law reaches the driver only: a driver may not possess or consume any alcoholic beverage or beer while operating a motor vehicle, and "operating" includes having the engine running whether or not the vehicle is moving.
Sunday Alcohol Sales in Tennessee →Conditional
In Tennessee, package and liquor stores may sell spirits and wine on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. only where locally approved, and Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Grocery and convenience…
Last Call Hours in Tennessee →Info
In Tennessee, last call is 3 a.m. statewide, though some counties are dry.
Beer & Wine in Grocery Stores in Tennessee →Permitted
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.
Where to Buy Alcohol in Tennessee →Conditional
Tennessee is not a control state — both wholesale and retail are private: spirits and wine are sold at private package (liquor) stores, while beer and, since 2016, wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores.

Other Tennessee laws

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