Late Hour Liquor License Application Process Businesses with a Consumption or Tavern License wishing to remain open beyond the regular time of closing may obtain a Late Hour Liquor License if they meet certain criteria and follow the application process outlined below.
Hours of Operation The closing hour under a standard Consumption or Tavern liquor license is 2 am, Monday through Saturday, and 3 am on Sunday. With a Late Hour Liquor License, those establishments are permitted to remain open until 4 am Monday through Saturday and 5 am on Sunday. The legal opening time for all liquor establishments is 7 am, Monday through Saturday, and 11 am Sunday.
Restaurants (or Tavern licensees with a Retail Food License) can begin selling liquor at 9 am on Sunday. Application Process In order to apply for a Late Hour Liquor License, applicants must first hold an incidental-consumption on premises or tavern liquor license.
- If 50 or more legal voters reside within a distance of 500 feet from the licensed premises the applicant is required to send written notice to all legal registered voters within 500 feet of the licensed premises.
- The applicant must send notices via certified mail with a return receipt requested.
- The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection can provide a sample notice.
The applicant is required to submit an affidavit stating that the local voters have been notified and that written notice has been provided to the local alderman informing him/her of the late hour application. A sign containing notice of the Late Hour Liquor License application must also be posted in a secured place conspicuous from the public way.
If there are more than 50 registered voters residing within 500 ft. of the applicant’s premises, the applicant must obtain and file a petition, signed by a majority of the legal voters registered within the affected area, giving consent to the business to file a Late Hour Liquor License application. The license application must be submitted within sixty (60) days of the date the petition was signed by the first legal voter.
Please note that a majority of the legal voters living within 500 feet of the licensed premises may file a petition requesting the Commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to suspend or revoke the Late Hour Liquor License privilege.
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What hours can you buy alcohol in Illinois?
FAQs on Buying Beer, Wine & Liquor in Illinois –
- Can you buy liquor in grocery stores in Illinois?
- Yes, you can freely buy liquor for off-premise consumption in grocery stores in Illinois.
- Can you buy alcohol in gas stations in Illinois?
- Yes, you can freely buy alcohol in Illinois gas stations for off-premise consumption.
- What times can you buy liquor, wine, or beer in Illinois?
The alcohol sales times in Illinois vary per county, and some counties have a 24/7 sales policy. However, most off-premise and on-premise alcohol sales are from 7 AM to 2 AM Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 3 AM on Saturday and 8 AM to 2 AM on Sunday. Can you order alcohol to go in Illinois? Yes, you can order alcohol to go in Illinois, provided it is packaged in its original container and is delivered by a person over 21 years old.
- Where in Illinois can buy alcohol off-premise?
- Off-premise alcohol can be purchased in Illinois gas stations, grocery stores, package stores, and specialized liquor stores.
- Where can buy alcohol for on-premise consumption in Illinois?
- On-premise alcohol can be purchased in Illinois bars, restaurants, clubs, breweries, and taprooms.
- ( Data Sources – Visit the following pages for further information:, )
Here at Park Street, we provide various services i.e. operations,, and, that allow you to focus on marketing and brand building. We handle everything else! If you’re interested in learning more about the services at Park Street Companies, then please feel free to complete the form below. : Illinois Alcoholic Beverage Sales and Laws (2023)
What time can you not buy alcohol in Illinois?
LIQUOR SALE HOURS: Monday-Thursday on-premise sale hours: 8am -12am.
What time does 7 11 start selling beer in Illinois?
FAQs – What time does 7/11 stop selling alcohol in Illinois? The time 7/11 stores stop selling alcohol in Illinois is 11:00 pm Monday to Friday, 1:00 am every Saturday, and 11:00 pm every Sunday. The starting time is 11:00 am Monday to Friday and Sunday, and 10:00 am every Saturday.
What time can you buy beer until in Chicago?
LIQUOR SALE HOURS: Monday-Thursday on-premise sale hours: 10am-12am. Monday-Thursday off-premise sale hours: 10am-12am.
What are the drinking laws in Illinois?
In Illinois, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drink alcohol. Drinking under 21 is a Class A misdemeanor, the most serious kind. It can mean a $2,500 fine and 1 year in jail. Cities may also have a law about drinking under 21.
Can you buy alcohol at 6am in Illinois?
Saturday on-premise liquor sale hours: 6am-2am. Saturday off-premise liquor sale hours: 6am-2am. Sunday on-premise liquor sale hours: Noon-1am. Sunday off-premise liquor sale hours: Noon-1am.
What time can you not buy alcohol in Chicago?
Chicago has officially banned liquor sales after midnight Remember when you could snag booze from Chicago liquor stores until 2am or 3am? Those halcyon days are officially over: After moving the curfew to 9pm (and later 11pm) just after the Illinois stay-at-home order went into effect last year, Chicago’s City Council has voted to permanently cut off liquor sales in the city at midnight.
The ban only applies to packaged goods—bars and restaurants will still be able to serve alcohol late into the evening. The new curfew is part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s “Chi Biz Strong” ordinance that made its way through City Council this week, a sprawling initiative that’s meant to help businesses recover from COVID-19 losses.
Initially, the ordinance, which Lightfoot later walked back to midnight after receiving pushback from aldermen, locals and business owners. “We believe a midnight closure is a reasonable compromise that addresses the serious nuisance issues raised by late-night liquor sales without unduly burdening our business community, and I continue to look forward to working with all stakeholders to make our city as safe and vibrant as possible,” Lightfoot said in a statement earlier this month.
- Other new changes in the ordinance include grant-funded financial and debt relief for businesses, a cap on the fees that third-party delivery services can charge to restaurants, increased wage theft protections and other business-related initiatives.
- A controversial provision about signs and permitting has been separated from the ordinance and pushed to a vote on a later date.
The midnight liquor curfew goes in effect immediately, so feel free to push your beer runs a little later starting tonight—just not quite as late as they could have been a year and a half ago. : Chicago has officially banned liquor sales after midnight
Does 7 11 sell beer Chicago?
7-Eleven is your go-to convenience store for food, snacks, hot and cold beverages, coffee, gas and so much more. We’re also open 24 hours a day. Enjoy rewards? You can earn points on every purchase with 7REWARDS, then redeem those points for FREE snacks and more.
From paper towels to pizza, empanadas, mini tacos, nachos, taquitos and chicken skewers, even drinks, you can earn points on all your favorites. Beer and wine near me? Pizza near me? We know the questions you’re asking, and the treats you crave. So, have 7-Eleven deliver them to your door. Late night energy or morning boost let us bring it to you.
Get the 7NOW app and have your favorites delivered in about 30 minutes. Whether you want ice-cold beer, wine, ice cream, a Big Bite hot dog, Big Gulp or tasty Slurpee we deliver 24/7. Visit your local 7-Eleven today.
Can you drink beer in public in Chicago?
Drinking in Public We have come a long way from the time of prohibition in the country. Drinking has been legalized in private settings and indoors in the state of Illinois. Nonetheless, drinking in public is still seen as socially irresponsible and an affront to civilized behavior.
It is not just the act of drinking that is seen as an offense. Carrying an open container of alcohol in a public space, such as public transport, is also an offense. This would hold in court even if you were not actually drinking the alcoholic contents. State Legislation The legislation regarding alcohol consumption and carrying in public is covered under various Illinois statutes.
Chicago statute 8-4-030 states that it is unlawful for any person to drink any alcoholic liquor in public or in a motor vehicle upon a public way in the city.
- The law also prohibits a person from transporting, carrying, possessing or having alcoholic liquor in or about any motor vehicle upon a public way except in the original package with unbroken seal or in a properly sealed package inside a bag.
- According to 625 ILCS 5/11-502, a driver is not allowed to carry, transport, possess or have any alcoholic liquor within the motor vehicle except in the original container and unbroken seal.
- 235 ILCS 5/6-33 states that a licensed restaurant may permit a patron to remove one bottle of partially consumed alcohol from the premises on the condition that the bottle is securely sealed by the licensee and placed in a bag.
Punishments Violation of the public drinking and carrying laws can be charged as a Class B misdemeanor. Offenders can be sentenced for up to 6 months in prison and a fine of $100 to $500. While the punishment for public drinking is not as harsh as other offenses, it should be noted that the charge is usually brought together with related offenses by the prosecution.
- Related charges could be causing disturbance to peace and order, resisting an officer, driving under influence, attempted assault and drug possession.
- Even a minor conviction can lead to creating a criminal record for the offender.
- The state of Illinois treats repeat offenders very harshly and minor misdemeanor charges could lead to more serious convictions under habitual juvenile offender laws.
Considerations Most people that get charged with public drinking in Illinois belong to one of three categories.
- Underage drinkers
- People caught driving under influence
- Highly intoxicated people that are causing public disturbance
The law enforcement agencies don’t usually take public drinking offenses very seriously unless they know the person may also be charged with another offense. It usually isn’t worth the effort to arrest someone who is carrying an open can of beer or drinking quietly on the bus without causing any disturbance.
- That of course does not mean that an officer cannot arrest the person.
- They simply choose not to because the case will likely get thrown out if the defendant gets a good legal counsel.
- The people that do get arrested more often are minors and teenagers who are caught with alcohol.
- Drinking and even carrying a sealed bottle of alcohol may land an unaccompanied teenager in trouble with the law.
It could be devastating to a young person to get a criminal record before the age of 18. The second category of people that gets commonly charged with possession and drinking is motor vehicle drivers. Driving under influence is strictly prohibited. It is a punishable offense as drunk drivers are a threat to their own safety and the safety of others around them.
It should be noted that even the possession of unsealed alcohol in the vehicle can be grounds for an arrest and conviction. For instance, if the police officers stop a car and see an open can of beer on the dashboard or a half-drunk bottle of wine on the passenger seat, they can arrest the driver even when he or she has not been drinking alcohol.
Examples and Court Cases While making a visible display of unsealed alcohol is openly asking for trouble, there are also instances where the police officers go over their authority and make an unnecessary arrest. The fourth amendment gives every citizen the right of feeling secure in their property and protects against unreasonable search and seizures.
Suppose that you are driving on the road with an unsealed bottle of wine lying inside your dashboard. The police officers signal for you to stop for a traffic violation. They detect no sign of drinking but choose to make you take a sobriety test and find that you are completely sober. One of the officers opens the dashboard and finds the half consumed bottle inside.
If the police then charge you for carrying unsealed alcohol with you, the case would not hold in court. Police officers are not authorized to perform search without probable cause, unless you give them a reason to search you first. Suppose that you fail the sobriety test or the wine inside the compartment starts leaking, giving a strong smell of alcohol presence in the car.
- These could be presented as probable causes to search the vehicle.
- Possible Legal Defenses Drinking publicly is a crime in the city of Chicago and most places in Illinois.
- If you are walking on the street drinking from a can of beer or open bottle of wine, the police have the right to arrest you under the law.
There are three possible defenses open to people charged with public drinking and carrying alcohol openly. The first defense is to deny that the accused was drunk. For this defense to hold, the defendant should not have acted in a manner that makes them seem drunk.
- The police usually gets video footage of such incidents these days and the burden of proof is on the defendant to prove sobriety at the time of the arrest.
- The second defense is to argue that the accused was not in a public place.
- Drinking in private, like your home or a friend’s private party is legal in Illinois.
Based on the circumstances of the case this defense is an option. Another defense available in limited cases is to deny that the accused was actually drinking at the time of the arrest. The most important piece of evidence in public drinking charges is an unsealed bottle or container of alcohol.
- If this evidence is missing or compromised, the case would not hold ground.
- Questioning the validity of whether the container was actually open plays an important part in public drinking trials.
- It should be noted that public drinking is very different from driving under influence.
- Court charges and legal defenses in either case are distinct from one another.
: Drinking in Public
Can I buy beer on Sunday in Chicago?
City approves earlier start for Sunday boozy brunch – Earlier this week, Chicago’s city council adopted an ordinance so restaurants and bars that serve food could start serving alcoho l earlier on Sunday mornings, moving the start time from 11 a.m. to 9 a.m.
What time does 7 Eleven sell alcohol in Chicago?
B) Alcohol Sales Business Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.- l :00 a.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m.- 11 :00 p.m.
What are the drinking laws in Chicago?
Federal, State, and Local Laws: Alcohol and Other Drug Resources Illinois law prohibits a person under the age of 21 from purchasing, accepting, possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages. Penalties for violating those laws, whether or not involving a motor vehicle, may result in the suspension or revocation of driving privileges.
Can you drink in the backseat of a car in Illinois?
Illinois Open Container Laws – Open container laws vary from state to state, although most generally allow and prohibit similar things. Illinois statute outlines what it considers an open container and where open containers are allowed to be. The laws say the following:
Both drivers and passengers are prohibited from possessing any alcohol in the passenger area unless it is in its original container with an unbroken seal.A sealed and unopened bottle of alcohol is allowed to be in the passenger areaOpen containers are allowed in the trunk or locked glove compartment of a vehicleIf a violating driver is less than 21 years of age, they will be subject to the loss of driving privileges
If you are found to be in violation of open container laws, in any way, an officer may try to take charges a step further. To keep aggressive police officers and prosecutors from trying to charge you with crimes you did not commit, contact a tough criminal defense attorney.
Can you drink at 18 with your parents in Illinois?
Underage Drinking: Underage Consumption of Alcohol Consumption is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S): private residence. AND parent/guardian.