Can’t Buy Alcohol on Thanksgiving in Massachusetts? Here’s Why

If you're planning to grab a bottle of wine on Thanksgiving Day in Massachusetts, you're out of luck. Massachusetts law bans the sale of alcohol on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. That means liquor stores, grocery stores, and package stores must stay closed for alcohol sales on Turkey Day.

If you live close to the New York or New Hampshire borders, don't bother knocking on their door, because they're closed, too.

Why does this law exist?

This rule is one of Massachusetts' last surviving "blue laws" - regulations influenced by Puritan values that date back to colonial times. These old laws were originally created to make sure people observed religious practices and kept certain days sacred.

Blue laws also control which businesses can operate on Sundays and some legal holidays, and they put special restrictions on alcohol sales. While many blue laws have been removed over the years, the Thanksgiving and Christmas alcohol bans remain in place.

Can you buy alcohol anywhere on Thanksgiving?

Yes, but only at restaurants and bars for drinking on-site. You just can't buy bottles to take home.

Other holidays with restrictions

Alcohol sales are also banned before noon on Memorial Day. State Representative David Linsky has tried multiple times since 2019 to change the Thanksgiving ban, but his bills keep failing. -yahoo.com

If you need alcohol for your Thanksgiving celebration, make sure to shop the day before. Once Thursday arrives, stores are legally required to keep their shelves closed.