North Dakota: Where can you buy liquor?
North Dakota liquor is sold by privately owned retailers that need both a local license and a state license.
Anyone selling alcohol at retail must be licensed by the Attorney General and must first hold a beer or liquor license from the city, county or tribal authority. Liquor wholesalers are private businesses licensed by the State Tax Commissioner. The state does not run liquor stores, and local licensing means availability can vary by city or county. Off-sale licenses can also go to gas stations, grocery stores and convenience stores if the alcohol is kept in a separate area.
Conditions
- Local city, county or tribal license required before the state license
- No off-sale between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Sundays or after 2:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day
What the law says
Any person who intends to engage in the retail sale of alcoholic beverages must be licensed by the Attorney General.
Sources
- North Dakota Attorney General, Retail Alcoholic Beverage License Official · attorneygeneral.nd.gov
- North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, Alcohol Tax Official · tax.nd.gov
- N.D.C.C. ch. 5-02 (retail licenses) Official · ndlegis.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- North Dakota Attorney General, Licensing Section
- Phone
- 701-328-2329
- Website
- attorneygeneral.nd.gov
How bordering states compare
- Minnesota Private licensed storesMinnesota liquor is sold by privately owned liquor stores licensed by cities, plus city-owned municipal liquor stores in some smaller towns.
- Montana Private agency storesMontana sells liquor through privately owned agency liquor stores under contract with the state, supplied from the state liquor warehouse.
- South Dakota Private licensed storesSouth Dakota licenses private wholesalers and off-sale liquor stores; the state does not sell liquor itself.
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