N
The Daily Insight

Is it cheaper to buy alcohol at a grocery store or liquor store

Author

Lucas Hayes

Updated on April 09, 2026

Though your grocery store will probably be cheaper than the corner liquor store, you can find a bigger variety and much better prices elsewhere. If you are buying in bulk for a wedding or other large party, try Costco, Sam’s Club, Liquor Barn, or even online retailers for bulk deals.

Is it cheaper to get alcohol at a grocery store or a liquor store?

Alcohol is generally cheapest at the larger grocery stores. For the simple reason that they have a strong buying position as they buy in massive quantities which allows them to sell at a discounted rate. The small liquor stores just can’t compete with this level of competition.

What is the cheapest way to buy alcohol?

  1. Grab cheap alcohol with a Vons Club Card. …
  2. Get wine delivery without breaking the bank online. …
  3. Build your own 6-pack to save $3 on expensive craft brews. …
  4. Buy booze at Costco without a membership. …
  5. Get a growler full of draft beer for the same price as a pint at the bar.

Is wine cheaper at a grocery store or liquor store?

A large grocery will typically have better wine prices than a liquor store since volume is higher and shelf space is less at a premium.

Is it cheaper to buy beer at a grocery store?

There are, on average, cheaper days to buy beer and wine from the grocery store, according to Ibotta, an app that connects with retailers to give cash back deals to customers. … Wine is an average of about 4 percent cheaper on Tuesdays, and depending on how many Wine Wednesdays you celebrate, that can add up.

Is alcohol cheaper at Walmart?

Prices for most liquor is at least 10% better at Walmart than the duty free.

What state has the cheapest alcohol prices?

Spirits are taxed the least in Wyoming and New Hampshire, where government-run stores have set prices low enough that they are comparable to having no taxes on spirits. Following Wyoming and New Hampshire are Missouri ($2.00), Colorado ($2.28), Texas ($2.40), and Kansas ($2.50).

Do all states have alcohol tax?

California: Alcohol Excise Taxes Excise taxes on alcohol are implemented by every state, as are excises on cigarettes and motor fuels like gasoline. … However, in almost all cases, excise taxes are passed on directly to the consumer in the form of raised alcohol prices.

Why you should stop drinking 10 dollar grocery store wine?

Without knowledgeable wine clerks to help customers with their purchases, the wines in grocery stores tend to collect dust. The bottle aren’t kept at cellar temperature and they’re not treated with the same care you’ll find at a wine store. Which means you’re more likely to get a bad bottle of wine.

Why can grocery stores sell fireball?

So: Supermarkets/drugstores/convenience stores can sell beer, malt liquor, hard cider and mead. … It is malt-based and clocks in at 33 proof, or 16.5 percent alcohol. Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is whisky-based and runs at 66 proof. The labels look almost identical.

Article first time published on

Where is the best place to buy liquor online?

  • Drizly: Best for same-day-delivery.
  • ReserveBar: Best for liquors and spirits.
  • Wine.com: Best for wine and champagne.
  • Tavour: Best for beer.
  • Flaviar: Best for sampling new brands.
  • Cellars Wine Club: Best subscription delivery.
  • The BroBasket: Best for gifts and wedding.

What is Smirnoff?

Smirnoff was the first company to use charcoal as a filter for vodka. Smirnoff Vodka is distilled from corn, making it gluten-free. Smirnoff offers over 35 different flavored vodkas.

How can you save on alcohol?

  1. Prioritize happy hour. …
  2. Drink at home. …
  3. Some restaurants allow you to bring your own alcohol. …
  4. Join a wine club. …
  5. Buy in bulk. …
  6. Don’t buy alchol on Saturday. …
  7. Go duty free.

Is beer cheaper at Walmart?

Likewise, Ibotta found that it’s generally cheaper to buy beer and wine outside the normal grocery and liquor store channels. A six-pack of beer costs the least at Walmart ($7.75), Target ($8.11) and Kroger ($8.39), and a bottle of wine is least expensive at Walgreens ($9.23), Walmart ($9.39) and Sam’s Club ($9.61).

Is it better to buy beer cold or warm?

The main reason we do this is because ultimately cold beer will stay fresher, longer. … Certainly, higher-than-normal temperatures for an extended period of time can have a bad effect on a beer’s flavor. Heat actually doesn’t create a specific off flavor itself. Instead, it acts to speed up the process of oxidation.

Can you buy a single can of beer?

Some states, like New York, allow the individual sale of beer bottles and cans, meaning a customer can technically break a pack and buy a solo beer on its own, but that does not mean the retailer has to let you. … Often, they’ll even have a cooler of single beers available for purchase.

Why is liquor so expensive?

Its expensive due to its complex manufacturing process and more the cost and more the revenue generated for the government. Mostly it’s either the time that’s required to produce it, and/or good advertising. In the US at least, any liquor you buy will be safe to drink.

Are alcohol prices going up?

Wine and liquor prices are rising, and they’re likely to increase as the holiday season continues. That’s according to the US Labor Department, which released data last week that showed a 1% year-over-year increase in the cost of alcoholic beverages in the United States.

Where is the cheapest alcohol in the world?

Alcohol beverage price index, world average = 100, 2017 – Country rankings: The average for 2017 based on 159 countries was 121.93 index points. The highest value was in Bahrain: 444.9 index points and the lowest value was in Azerbaijan: 42.06 index points.

Is Costco liquor cheaper than duty-free?

That means liquor, tobacco, cosmetics, and fragrances typically offer the best deal. Although they’re often available when duty-free shopping, cameras, watches, and other electronics are almost always cheaper online via sites like Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, or Walmart, than at any duty-free shop.

Does Walmart have hard liquor?

The chain currently sells beer and wine in its stores in 47 states, according to court records, including 668 locations in Texas. In 31 states, Walmart also sells hard liquor. … Hard liquor would only be sold in the package stores, not inside of existing Walmart stores.

Which states sell liquor Walmart?

States where customers can order beverage alcohol through Walmart’s grocery pick-up service include California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and New Hampshire.

Why is Franzia so cheap?

Cheaper wines are often made from blends of grapes, and there is a good reason for this: a skilled blender can coax good wine from mediocre grapes. Most prestigious and expensive vintages of wine are varietals, which means they’re made from just one variety of grape.

Do cheap wines have more sugar?

Cheaper, mass-produced wines are known to be higher in residual sugars. … If you are wanting to lower your sugar intake, opt for wines made in small, high-quality wineries that don’t intervene with the natural process of the grapes. Make sure they focus on traditional winemaking techniques.

Why is supermarket wine so cheap?

Most supermarket wine manages to appear cheap because that is exactly what it is. Buying power is the key. Supermarkets buy vast quantities of the majority of their wine range in order to sufficiently supply their numerous branches throughout the country.

What states have no liquor tax?

Spirits are taxed the least in Wyoming and New Hampshire, where government-run stores have set prices low enough that they are comparable to having no taxes on spirits. Following Wyoming and New Hampshire are Missouri ($2.00), Colorado ($2.28), Texas ($2.40), and Kansas ($2.50).

What state has the cheapest beer?

  • Nevada $20.96.
  • Pennsylvania $21.50.
  • Vermont $21.56.
  • Tennessee $22.25.
  • Montana $22.28.
  • Hawaii $22.39.
  • Wyoming $26.68.
  • Alaska $31.21.

Why is liquor so expensive in Alabama?

Those dollars aren’t simply thrown into the state’s budget. Alabama divides them up by the 56 percent liquor tax, the 6 percent sales tax and the ABC Board’s annual profits.

Is Fireball real whiskey?

Fireball whiskey is a flavored whiskey: it’s a mix of Canadian whisky, sweetener and cinnamon flavoring. Fireball was developed in Canada in the 1980’s. It was originally part of a flavored schnapps line of Seagram’s, and is now produced by the Sazerac Company.

What's in Southern Comfort?

While the actual recipe is kept under lock and key, our deepest digging has brought us to this conclusion: Southern Comfort is made from 100-percent grain-neutral spirit base (basically vodka), fruit, spices and at times the recipe has included a little bourbon.

Is there fake Fireball?

So, the short answer is “NO”. Don’t be fooled, Fireball Whisky isn’t being sold at New York convenience stores, gas stations, or grocery stores. Fireball Cinnamon malt beverage is being sold and the labels are almost identical.