Alcohol Laws in Minnesota (2026): Rules That Actually Matter
Most people think they know the alcohol laws. They really don’t. Minnesota has some strict rules that can catch you off guard. Let’s break down what you actually need to know to stay out of trouble.
What Are Minnesota’s Basic Alcohol Laws?
Minnesota takes alcohol seriously. The state has detailed rules about when you can buy it, where you can drink it, and who can have it. These laws changed a bit over the years, including some recent updates in 2025.
The legal drinking age is 21. Pretty straightforward. But here’s what confuses people: even if you’re 20 years and 364 days old, you’re still breaking the law if you drink. You’re not legally 21 until 8 AM on your actual birthday.
Yep, that’s right. Midnight doesn’t count.
When Can You Buy Alcohol?
Minnesota controls the hours for alcohol sales. The rules are different for stores versus bars and restaurants.
Off-Sale Hours (Stores)
You can buy alcohol to take home during these times. Monday through Saturday, stores sell from 8 AM to 10 PM. On Sunday, it’s 11 AM to 6 PM.
That Sunday window is pretty short. Plan ahead if you need something for a Sunday evening gathering.
Local cities can make the hours even stricter. So your town might have different rules. Check with your local liquor store if you’re not sure.
On-Sale Hours (Bars and Restaurants)
Bars and restaurants have longer hours. They can serve alcohol from 8 AM to 2 AM every day of the week. That includes Sunday.
Hold on, this part is important. At 2 AM, the drinks stop. Bars must close down alcohol service at that time.
Special Days
Some days are different. No alcohol sales on Thanksgiving Day. On Christmas Eve, sales stop at 8 PM. Christmas Day is completely dry.
These are state rules. Every store and bar must follow them.
Where Can You Buy Different Types of Alcohol?
Minnesota used to be super strict about this. Things loosened up recently, but it’s still more limited than some states.
Beer
Regular-strength beer is now available in grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores. This changed relatively recently. Before that, only weak 3.2% beer was allowed outside liquor stores.
Pretty much any place with a license can sell beer now.
Wine and Spirits
Wine and liquor are different. You can only buy these at liquor stores. Walmart can’t sell you wine in Minnesota. Target can’t either.
Only dedicated liquor stores have licenses for wine and spirits.
Some cities run their own municipal liquor stores. These are government-owned. If your town has a municipal store, they might not allow private liquor stores to operate there.
Underage Drinking Laws
Minnesota has a zero-tolerance policy. Anyone under 21 caught with alcohol faces serious consequences. And I mean serious.
Minor Consumption
If you’re under 21 and caught drinking, that’s a misdemeanor. The penalties include up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000. Your driver’s license could be suspended too, especially if you used a fake ID.
Most people don’t realize how harsh these penalties actually are.
The Not-A-Drop Law
This one surprises a lot of people. If you’re under 21 and drive with any amount of alcohol in your system, you’re breaking the law. Even if you had one sip. Even if your blood alcohol content is way below 0.08%.
The law is called the Not-A-Drop law for a reason.
First offense gets you a 30-day license suspension. Second offense jumps to 180 days. You’ll also face a misdemeanor charge with up to $700 in fines and 90 days in jail.
Wait, it gets better. These charges stay on your record for 15 years.
Parental Exception
There’s one exception to underage drinking rules. Parents or legal guardians can provide alcohol to their own kids in their household. Only in their household, though.
You can’t do this at a friend’s house. You can’t do this at a restaurant. It has to be your own home.
Drinking and Driving Laws (DWI)
Minnesota calls it DWI, not DUI. Same thing, basically. Driving While Intoxicated.
Blood Alcohol Limits
The legal limit is 0.08% for most drivers. Commercial drivers have a stricter limit of 0.04%. And remember, anyone under 21 faces the Not-A-Drop law.
But here’s the thing. You can still get a DWI even if you’re under 0.08%. If an officer thinks you’re impaired, they can charge you.
DWI Degrees
Minnesota has four degrees of DWI. Fourth degree is the least serious. First degree is a felony.
What determines the degree? Aggravating factors. Things like prior offenses, high blood alcohol content, having a child in the car, or refusing a test.
First Offense Penalties
A basic first-time DWI is a fourth-degree offense. That’s a misdemeanor. Penalties include up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000.
Your license gets revoked for 30 to 90 days minimum. Could be longer depending on your blood alcohol level and whether you refused testing.
If you had aggravating factors, your first DWI becomes more serious. You could face gross misdemeanor charges with up to a year in jail and $3,000 in fines.
Repeat Offenses
Second, third, and fourth offenses get progressively worse. Major changes took effect in 2025 that made penalties much stricter.
The lookback period for license revocation is now 20 years. That’s right, 20 years. Criminal charges still use a 10-year lookback, but for license penalties, they go back 20.
Confused about the difference? Let me break it down.
Say you got a DWI 18 years ago. A new DWI today would still be charged as a first offense criminally. But for your license? It counts as a second offense. Your license gets revoked for two years instead of 90 days.
New 2025 Changes
The 2025 law changes are no joke. Revocation periods are longer. Everyone with a prior offense must complete substance abuse treatment before getting their license back. And the ignition interlock requirements got stricter.
An ignition interlock is a device that tests your breath. If it detects alcohol, your car won’t start.
Second DWI in 20 years means a mandatory two-year revocation. Third DWI ever means a six-year cancellation. Fourth DWI ever means a 10-year cancellation.
These penalties are not negotiable.
Refusing Tests
Minnesota has an implied consent law. By driving here, you automatically consent to chemical testing if arrested for DWI. Refusing the test is a separate crime.
Refusing doesn’t help you avoid a DWI. You get charged with both the DWI and the refusal. Plus your license gets revoked longer.
You now have 14 days of temporary driving privileges after refusing. That’s up from 7 days before 2025. Still not much time to figure things out.
Open Container Laws
Minnesota bans open containers of alcohol in vehicles. This applies even if you’re completely sober. Even if you’re not drinking.
What Counts as Open?
Any bottle or container with a broken seal counts as open. Even if you screwed the cap back on. Even if you didn’t drink any of it.
Empty containers count too. An empty beer can in your cup holder can get you a ticket.
Who Gets in Trouble?
Both drivers and passengers can be charged. The law applies equally to everyone in the vehicle.
The driver faces strict liability. That means even if a passenger brought the open container without telling you, you’re still responsible. You can be charged even if you didn’t know about it.
Honestly, this one catches a lot of people by surprise.
Where You Can Keep Open Containers
The trunk is safe. If your car has a trunk, put open containers in there. The law says containers must be in a location not normally occupied by the driver or passengers.
No trunk? Put it in the very back of your vehicle. SUVs, vans, and hatchbacks should use the rear cargo area. Pickup trucks can use the truck bed.
Glove compartment doesn’t work. Under the seat doesn’t work. These areas are considered within reach.
Penalties
Open container violations are misdemeanors. That means up to 90 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Your insurance rates could skyrocket.
For juvenile offenders, an open container conviction means losing your provisional driving privileges. You have to wait 12 months to apply for a regular license.
Exceptions
Some vehicles are exempt. You can drink in a bus operated by a commercial carrier. You can drink in a limousine with a hired driver. Pedal pubs are allowed too.
Motorboats are different. You can have open containers on a boat. But the person operating the boat still can’t be intoxicated. The 0.08% limit applies to boat operators too.
Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
Giving alcohol to someone under 21 is illegal. Doesn’t matter if it’s your kid’s friend, your nephew, or anyone else under 21.
The only exception is parents giving alcohol to their own children in their household.
Penalties
Furnishing alcohol to a minor is usually a gross misdemeanor. That means up to one year in jail and $3,000 in fines.
If the minor gets seriously hurt or dies, the charges become felony offenses. You could face much longer prison time.
Social Host Liability
Minnesota has a social host law. If you provide alcohol to a minor and they cause harm, you can be sued. The injured person can go after you for damages.
This includes property damage, medical bills, and other losses. Adults can be held financially responsible for any crime caused by an intoxicated minor they gave alcohol to.
Sound complicated? It’s actually pretty straightforward. Don’t give alcohol to anyone under 21.
Direct-to-Consumer Delivery
Minnesota allows alcohol delivery. Wineries, breweries, and distilleries can ship directly to consumers. But there are rules.
The buyer must verify their age. Delivery services need proper licenses. You can’t just have your friend drop off a case of beer and call it legal.
Restaurants can sell alcohol for takeout, but only in original, unopened packages. They can sell up to 72 ounces of beer, cider, or hard seltzer per order. Wine is capped at 750 ml per order.
No cocktails to go, though. Mixed drinks must stay on-premise.
How to Stay Compliant
The rules seem like a lot. They kind of are. But staying legal isn’t that hard.
Plan Your Purchases
Know the hours. Don’t wait until 9:30 PM on a Sunday to buy wine. Stores close at 10 PM most days and 6 PM on Sunday.
Stock up before holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas have special restrictions.
Transport Alcohol Safely
Keep everything sealed. If a bottle is open, put it in the trunk. If you don’t have a trunk, put it in the very back.
Empty your car of empties. Those half-finished beers from last weekend can cause you problems.
If You’re Underage
Just wait. Seriously. The penalties for underage drinking are harsh. A misdemeanor record follows you around. Jobs become harder to get. Scholarships disappear. College admissions get complicated.
Not worth it.
If You’ve Been Drinking
Don’t drive. Call a rideshare. Call a friend. Sleep on someone’s couch. Anything but getting behind the wheel.
A DWI costs way more than an Uber. The fines, legal fees, increased insurance, and license revocation add up to thousands of dollars. That’s not counting possible jail time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink in my parked car?
Only if you’re parked on private property, not on a street or highway. If your car is on any public road, even parked, the open container law applies. You can sit in your car in your own driveway or a campsite and drink legally.
What if a passenger is drinking in my car?
You get charged too. The driver faces strict liability for open containers in the vehicle. Even if you’re sober and had no idea your passenger was drinking, you can still be ticketed. Don’t let passengers drink in your vehicle.
Can I buy alcohol on Sundays?
Yes, but the hours are limited. Stores can sell from 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday. Bars and restaurants can serve from 8 AM to 2 AM like any other day. Sunday sales were expanded in recent years.
What happens if I refuse a breathalyzer test?
Your license gets revoked immediately. Refusing is a separate crime from the DWI itself. You’ll face both charges. The refusal usually means a longer license revocation period. You get 14 days of temporary driving privileges to figure things out.
How long does a DWI stay on my record in Minnesota?
A DWI stays on your record for 15 years minimum. This affects future offenses and penalties. Recent law changes mean license revocations now look back 20 years, even though criminal charges use a 10-year lookback period for counting priors.
Final Thoughts
Minnesota’s alcohol laws are strict but clear. The state takes drinking and driving very seriously. Underage drinking penalties are harsh. Open container rules apply to everyone.
The 2025 changes made things even stricter, especially for repeat offenders. License revocations are longer. Treatment is mandatory. The lookback period doubled.
Know the rules. Follow them. If you mess up, get a lawyer. These charges can affect your life for years.
Stay safe out there, and when in doubt, play it safe. Your future self will thank you.