You've probably been there. It’s Sunday afternoon, you’re halfway through prepping a massive pot of Sunday sauce, and you realize the wine rack is bone dry. Or maybe the Eagles are playing at 1:00 PM and you forgot to grab a bottle of bourbon for the tailgate. In Pennsylvania, that used to be a death sentence for your weekend plans.
For decades, the Keystone State was notorious for "Blue Laws" that kept the state-run liquor stores shuttered on the Lord's Day. Honestly, it was a whole ordeal. You basically had to drive across the border to Jersey or Delaware if you didn't plan ahead.
But things are different now.
Are Liquor Stores Open on Sunday in PA?
The short answer is: Yes, but not all of them. Pennsylvania doesn't play by the same rules as other states. Since the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) owns and operates every single "Fine Wine & Good Spirits" store, they decide which locations get to open on Sundays. As of 2026, the majority of the high-volume stores are open, but many smaller, rural shops still keep the lights off.
Usually, if a store is open on Sunday, the hours are shorter than a standard Tuesday or Friday. You're generally looking at an 11:00 AM opening time and a 7:00 PM closing time. Don't just drive there and hope for the best.
The PLCB has a store locator that is actually surprisingly decent. You can filter by "Open Sunday" to make sure you aren't wasting gas.
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Why some stores stay closed
It’s mostly a numbers game for the state. If a store in a tiny town doesn't pull in enough revenue to justify paying staff at Sunday rates, the PLCB just keeps it closed. It’s annoying, sure, but that’s the reality of a state-controlled monopoly.
Grocery Stores and Gas Stations: The Sunday Saviors
If your local state store is closed, don't panic. The laws changed big time over the last few years. Thanks to Act 39 and more recent 2024-2025 reforms, you have way more options than your parents did.
- Wine: Most "big box" grocery stores like Giant, Wegmans, and Acme sell wine now.
- Beer: This is everywhere. Gas stations (Sheetz, Wawa, Rutter's), grocery stores, and beer distributors.
- Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Cocktails: This is the newest win. As of late 2024 and moving into 2026, you can now find canned cocktails (like High Noon or Surfside) in many grocery stores and beer distributors.
The Catch: Even on Sundays, these places have restricted hours. Typically, you can’t start buying booze at a grocery store until 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM, depending on their specific permit and whether they serve food. And remember, you usually have to use a specific "alcohol-only" checkout lane or a designated register at the cafe.
Beer Distributors and Sunday Sales
Back in the day, beer distributors were strictly Monday through Saturday. That felt like an eternity when you needed a case for a Sunday BBQ.
Now? Distributors are legally allowed to be open on Sundays. Most open around 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM and close earlier than usual, maybe 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM.
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Unlike the state-run liquor stores, these are private businesses. That means the owner can decide to stay closed if they want to watch the game or give their staff a break. It's always a good idea to check their Google Maps listing or give 'em a quick ring.
What about holidays on Sundays?
This is where it gets slightly tricky. If a major holiday like Christmas or Easter falls on a Sunday, every Fine Wine & Good Spirits store will be closed. No exceptions.
For 2026, here is the basic Sunday holiday vibe for PA state stores:
- Easter (April 5, 2026): Closed.
- Christmas Eve: Usually open, but they close early (often by 6:00 PM).
- New Year's Eve: Open, usually until 8:00 PM.
If it's a "minor" holiday like President's Day or Juneteenth and it happens to fall on a Sunday, the stores that are normally open on Sundays will stay open.
Quick Tips for Sunday Success
Pennsylvania liquor laws are a maze. Honestly, even people who have lived here for 40 years get confused.
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First, check the PLCB website. It’s the only source of truth for the Fine Wine & Good Spirits shops. Second, keep two forms of ID on you. PA is famously strict about carding—even if you look like you remember where you were when Kennedy was shot, they might still ask.
Third, watch your quantities. At a grocery store, you’re limited to 3,000ml of wine (that’s four standard bottles) and 192 ounces of beer (usually two six-packs) per transaction. If you need more, you literally have to walk out to your car, come back in, and start a new transaction. It’s a weird quirk of the law that hasn’t gone away yet.
Your Sunday Checklist:
- Use the FWGS "Open Sunday" filter on their website.
- Aim for the 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM window.
- If you just need wine or canned cocktails, head to a Wegmans or Giant.
- Grab your ID, even for a single six-pack.
If you're planning a big event, your best bet is to hit the store on Saturday. It saves you the headache of hunting for an open location and dealing with the Sunday "limited hours" rush. If you're stuck in a pinch, stick to the larger "Premium Collection" stores in suburban hubs; they are almost always open on Sundays.