Wisconsin · WI · Food & drink
Wisconsin: Where can you buy liquor?
Private licensed stores
Wisconsin sells liquor through privately owned stores holding municipal Class A licenses, including many grocery stores.
Cities, villages, and towns issue the Class A licenses that allow liquor sales for use off the premises. The state does not buy or sell liquor; wholesalers and producers hold state permits. Grocery stores with liquor sections can hold a Class A license.
What the law says
A “Class A” license authorizes the retail sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption off the premises where sold and in original packages and containers.
Sources
- Wis. Stat. § 125.51 Official · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- Wisconsin DOR: Alcohol Beverage Laws for Retailers - Licenses Official · revenue.wi.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Division of Alcohol Beverages
- Phone
- (608) 266-2526
- Website
- revenue.wi.gov
How bordering states compare
- Illinois Private licensed storesIllinois licenses private retailers to sell liquor; the state does not buy or sell spirits itself.
- Iowa State wholesale, private storesIowa is the only wholesaler of liquor, but privately owned licensed stores sell it to the public.
- Michigan State wholesale, private storesMichigan's Liquor Control Commission is the wholesaler of spirits, but privately owned licensed stores sell liquor to the public.
- 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.