Yes, you can buy alcohol in grocery stores in Massachusetts, but only at locations that hold a state-issued package store license, and what’s on the shelf depends on the license type, the day, and even the town you’re standing in.
Why Only Some Locations in a Chain Sell It
Massachusetts caps how many off-premises alcohol licenses any single company can hold. Under Chapter 138, Section 15, one person, corporation, or related group of entities can hold no more than nine package store licenses across the entire Commonwealth. On top of that, no entity can hold more than one license in any town or more than two in any city.1General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138 Section 15
That’s why one branch of a grocery chain carries beer and wine while another five miles away carries none. Chains have to pick their spots, usually the busiest stores. The cap exists to keep large retailers from putting a liquor department in every supermarket and crowding out independent package stores.
Beer and Wine vs. Hard Liquor
Not every licensed grocery store sells the same products. The most common license covers only wines and malt beverages, which includes beer and hard cider. A separate “all-alcohol” license is needed to sell spirits like vodka, whiskey, and rum, and municipalities issue far fewer of those.
So the typical grocery aisle in Massachusetts is stocked with beer, wine, and cider while spirits stay at dedicated package stores. If you’re after a bottle of bourbon, call the store or check its website before driving over.
When You Can Buy
State law sets the outer window: no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and no later than 11:00 p.m. on any day. Local licensing authorities can set tighter hours within that window.1General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138 Section 15 On Sundays, off-premises retailers can’t start selling alcohol until 10:00 a.m., and the 11:00 p.m. cutoff still applies.
Three days each year carry hard restrictions. Package store licensees cannot sell or deliver any alcohol on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, and on Memorial Day sales are prohibited before noon.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138 Section 33 The grocery store itself usually stays open on those days, but the alcohol section is closed or locked. If you’re hosting, stock up the day before.
Dry Towns and Local Control
Even where a chain has licenses available, it can’t sell alcohol in a town that hasn’t voted to allow it. Massachusetts gives municipalities the power to decide through local ballot questions whether to permit retail alcohol sales within their borders.3General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138 Section 11 A town can go fully dry or allow only certain license types.
A handful of small towns remain fully dry, including Alford, Chilmark, Gosnold, and Mount Washington. In towns that do allow sales, the local licensing board still runs the approval process and can impose stricter conditions than state law requires, which is why license availability varies even among nearby communities.
What Checkout Looks Like
Buying alcohol at a Massachusetts grocery store is straightforward with a few quirks. The alcohol area is typically roped off or separated from the rest of the store, and you’ll almost always need to check out at a staffed register rather than self-checkout. Expect to show ID no matter how old you look. Most chains scan every customer’s license as a blanket policy, because the penalty for selling to someone under 21 can reach a $2,000 fine, up to a year in jail, or both.4General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138 Section 34
State law lists the IDs that give a retailer a legal defense if a sale slips through. The approved documents are:5General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138 Section 34B
- A Massachusetts driver’s license or state-issued ID card
- A liquor purchase identification card issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles
- A valid U.S. or recognized foreign passport
- An out-of-state driver’s license
- A U.S. military ID
- A Global Entry card issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
One common point of confusion: the statute explicitly includes a valid license to operate a motor vehicle issued by another state.6General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 138 34B Some grocery chains still refuse out-of-state IDs as internal policy, which is a business decision rather than a legal requirement. If a cashier turns away your valid New Hampshire license, the store is being more cautious than the law demands.