Illinois · IL · Food & drink
Illinois: Where can you buy liquor?
Private licensed stores
Illinois licenses private retailers to sell liquor; the state does not buy or sell spirits itself.
The Illinois Liquor Control Commission licenses retailers, and its license categories include liquor stores. The retailer license covers all alcoholic liquor, including spirits, sold for use rather than resale. Cities and counties also regulate liquor sales, so local rules can vary.
What the law says
(d) A retailer's license shall allow the licensee to sell and offer for sale at retail, only in the premises specified in the license, alcoholic liquor for use or consumption, but not for resale in any form.
Sources
- 235 ILCS 5/5-1 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- Illinois Liquor Control Commission, Licensing Division Official · ilcc.illinois.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Illinois Liquor Control Commission
- Phone
- 312-814-2206
- Website
- ilcc.illinois.gov
How bordering states compare
- Indiana Private licensed storesIndiana issues liquor dealer permits to private package liquor stores and other retailers; the state does not sell spirits.
- Iowa State wholesale, private storesIowa is the only wholesaler of liquor, but privately owned licensed stores sell it to the public.
- Kentucky Private licensed storesKentucky licenses private package stores to sell distilled spirits; the state does not buy or sell liquor.
- Missouri Private licensed storesMissouri licenses private businesses, including grocery stores, drug stores and general merchandise stores, to sell bottled liquor.
- Wisconsin Private licensed storesWisconsin sells liquor through privately owned stores holding municipal Class A licenses, including many grocery stores.