Legal in 30 States: the Drive-Thru Liquor Store
Caleb Cook
July 24, 2019
For most of my life, I lived in Indiana — where you can’t even buy alcohol on Sunday, let alone do it without leaving your car. When I moved to Ohio in 2014, a whole new world of convenience opened up for me. Drive-thru liquor stores are everywhere in the Buckeye State.
Ohio is one of 30 states across the U.S. (as of 2018) where you can purchase alcoholic beverages from drive-thru purveyors. Whether you’re making a quick stop on your way home from work or you want to buy beer without the hassle of putting on pants, these spots are perfect for quenching your thirst while indulging your laziest impulses.
Names for drive-thru liquor stores vary throughout the country. Terms you’ll find from state to state include “beverage barn,” “party barn,” “beer barn,” “bootlegger,” and “brew thru.”
Drive-thru traditions vary from state to state as well. For example, in Louisiana, thanks to a loophole in the state’s open-container law, you can actually order a to-go drink from a drive-thru daiquiri stand — as long as you wait until arriving at your destination to insert the straw.
Look past the convenience, and you’ll find that drive-thru liquor stores draw plenty of controversy, too. They’re not allowed in 20 states. Some activists say they make driving under the influence far easier than it should be. And even in states where these stores are legal, they’re barred in many counties and municipalities.
States with drive-thru liquor stores
If you’re feeling thirsty, here are the 30 states where you can visit a drive-thru liquor store:
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri
New Jersey
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming