You feel like a beer or a glass of nice wine or want to drink some rum like your favorite movie pirate. The problem is that you do not have a drop of alcohol at home, and the closest liquor store is not within easy travel distance.
Does Circle K sell alcohol?
Circle K does sell beer and wine in states that allow it. You will not find liquor being sold at Circle K locations. Many Circle K locations do not sell alcohol but only because it is not allowed as per local laws.
Circle K stores sell alcohol if they are in a state or country where they can do so.
Some Circle K stores have so-called “Beer KAVES,” in which you can find a selection of beer, sometimes wine, and sometimes even liquor. Circle K has also been teaming up with delivery companies where they can deliver alcohol directly to your door, for example Saucey.
If you want to learn more about where you can buy all sorts of alcohol in Circle K stores and in which states you are out of luck, keep reading this article.
Why Do Some Circle K Stores Not Sell Alcohol?
In some states, the alcohol cannot be sold by any other store but state-controlled or state-owned liquor stores (also called packaging stores). Even if a Circle K store in such a state wanted to sell beer, wine, and liquor, they would not be allowed to.
In other states, stores like Circle K may be allowed to sell alcohol only under a strict set of rules, e.g., alcohol sales must take place in a space separate from the rest of the store. This is often not realistic for smaller convenience stores.
Which States Does Circle K Sell Alcohol In?
After the end of the prohibition of alcohol (1933), every state in the USA received the right to make its own laws regarding the production, distribution, marketing, and sale of alcohol.
While this is great for each state, it is confusing for customers who travel a lot – and even more confusing for visitors from other countries.
To keep it simple, I made a list to show you in which states you can buy what type of alcohol in Circle K stores.
Note: Just because a store is legally allowed to sell certain types of alcohol in a state does not mean it will do so.
| State | Does Circle K sell beer? | Does Circle K sell wine? | Does Circle K sell liquor? |
| Alabama | Yes | Yes | No |
| Alaska | No | No | No |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | No |
| California | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes | No | No |
| Connecticut | Yes | No | No |
| Delaware | No | No | No |
| District of Columbia | Yes | Yes | No |
| Florida | Yes | Yes | No |
| Georgia | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hawaii | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Idaho | Yes | Yes | No |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kansas | Up to 6% ABV only | No | No |
| Kentucky | Yes | No | No |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maine | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maryland | Depends on locality | Depends on locality | Depends on locality |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minnesota | Up to 3.2% ABV only | No | No |
| Mississippi | Yes | No | No |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Montana | Yes | Yes | No |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nevada | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes | No |
| New Jersey | Rarely | Rarely | No |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New York | Yes | No | No |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes | No |
| North Dakota | Rarely | Rarely | Rarely |
| Ohio | Yes | Only under 21% ABV
|
Only under 21% ABV |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes | No |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | No |
| Rhode Island | No | No | No |
| South Carolina | Yes | Yes | No |
| South Dakota | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | No |
| Texas | Yes | Yes | No |
| Utah | Up to 4% ABV only | Yes | No |
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | No |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes | No |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Depends on county | Depends on county | Depends on county |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What About Circle K Stores In Other Countries?
Circle K is known in Canada and the USA but also has about 2000 franchise locations all over the globe. Circle K can be found in various European countries, New Zealand, Mexico, Vietnam, and other countries.
Whether Circle K sells alcohol in other countries depends on the local alcohol sale laws. Each country approaches this topic in its own way. If you plan on traveling to another country with Circle K stores and plan to use them to buy alcohol, it would be best first to learn all there is to learn about local alcohol laws.
You do not only want to know whether Circle K sells alcohol in that country but which other laws are involved, e.g., Is it allowed to drink in public? Can you be drunk in public? Can you sit in a car and drink?
Make sure you know what you are doing because some countries (or states in the USA) have pretty strict rules about alcohol and its consumption.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Buy Alcohol In A Circle K Store?
In the USA, you must be 21 years old to buy alcohol legally in a Circle K store.
If a staff member thinks you look too young, they will ask you for your ID.
It is against the law to sell alcohol to someone under 21 – and breaking this law can be very costly for a business.
Does Circle K Sell Alcohol On Sundays?
This is another thing that depends on the state you are in. Some states do not allow the sale of any alcohol on Sundays, and others only allow alcohol sales during certain hours on Sundays.
What Time Does Circle K Sell Alcohol?
Like so many other things about alcohol in the USA, there is no single answer to this question. In some states, like Arizona, Circle K has to stop selling alcohol at 10 pm.
In other states, like Colorado, they only have to stop alcohol sales at 2 am!
In Florida, selling alcohol is not allowed after midnight.
Usually, you should be able to buy alcohol from 8 am to 10 pm or midnight (or later in some states). Ask your local store about their alcohol sales hours if they do not display them.
Final Thoughts
In some states, it is fairly easy to buy alcohol. Even convenience stores like Circle K have a small selection of beer and wine, sometimes even liquor, in many states.
Just do not expect to find the finest products the world of alcohol offers in a Circle K store. Circle K stores are a good alternative to liquor stores if you don’t want to travel to a liquor store.
If you, however, want a truly special wine, beer, or liquor, you either have to go to a liquor store or order online.
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