Hey there! As an Ontario resident, I know how confusing liquor laws can be sometimes. I want to provide you with a detailed guide on exactly when alcohol sales stop at Walmart stores across our province.
I‘ve researched all the regulations from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to bring you the most accurate info. Consider me your friendly neighborhood expert on this topic!
Legal Drinking Age in Ontario
First things first, let‘s go over the legal drinking age here in Ontario:
- You must be 19 years or older to legally purchase or drink alcohol in Ontario.
- Be ready to show valid ID with your birthdate when shopping for alcohol. A driver‘s license, passport, or photo card will all work.
Trust me, Walmart cashiers will check your ID closely to verify your age before selling alcohol. Don‘t take it personally – they‘re just following the law!
Hours for Alcohol Sales at Walmart
Okay, let‘s get into the good stuff: when you can actually buy alcohol at Walmart!
Walmart locations across Ontario are permitted to sell alcohol during these hours:
- Weekdays: 9:00am to 11:00pm
- Weekends: 9:00am to 11:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Yep, those hours apply every single day of the week at all Ontario Walmart stores.
I‘ll explain holiday hours just below, but you can count on beer, wine, coolers, and spirits being available between 9am-11pm generally.
Here are a few notes about the alcohol sales hours:
- Walmarts must stop selling at 11:00pm sharp each night. Don‘t try to sneak in a last minute purchase!
- Municipalities can‘t make Walmarts close early. These hours come straight from the AGCO.
- Holidays have special rules I‘ll cover soon. Otherwise, it‘s 9am-11pm alcohol availability.
I know sometimes you just need a bottle of wine at 10:30pm for a summer nightcap – I‘ve been there! With Walmart, you‘re covered during those late evening hours.
Alcohol Sales on Holidays at Walmart
Now, about those holiday hours. The AGCO requires some restricted alcohol sale times on certain statutory holidays:
Closed Alcohol Sales Holidays
- Good Friday – No alcohol sales permitted
- Christmas Day – No alcohol sales permitted
I know, it‘s a bummer you can‘t grab a festive bottle on Christmas. Make sure to plan ahead!
Restricted Hours Alcohol Holidays
- New Year‘s Day – Alcohol sales from 12:00pm to 11:00pm
- Family Day – Alcohol sales from 11:00am to 11:00pm
- Victoria Day – Alcohol sales from 11:00am to 11:00pm
- Canada Day – Alcohol sales from 11:00am to 11:00pm
- Labour Day – Alcohol sales from 11:00am to 11:00pm
For those restricted holidays, Walmart isn‘t allowed to sell any alcohol before 11am or 12pm depending on the specific day.
But once those midday hours hit, it‘s smooth sailing through the 11pm closing time!
Regular Hours Holidays
The rest of the statutory holidays follow the normal 9am-11pm alcohol sale hours:
- Easter Sunday
- Thanksgiving
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Eve
- New Year‘s Eve
So you can shop early for mimosas supplies on Easter Sunday!
How Walmart and LCBO Alcohol Hours Compare
Wondering how Walmart‘s alcohol hours stack up against the LCBO? Let‘s compare:
| Store | Monday-Saturday Hours | Sunday Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | 9:00am-11:00pm | 9:00am-11:00pm |
| LCBO | 10:00am-9:00pm | 11:00am-6:00pm |
As you can see, Walmart has significantly longer hours for buying alcohol than standard LCBO stores.
However, some larger LCBO locations in big cities now match Walmart by staying open 9am-11pm as well.
My advice? Call ahead to confirm hours whenever you need to purchase alcohol, whether from Walmart, the LCBO, or any other retailer. Holidays especially can throw things off!
Recent Changes to Alcohol Laws in Ontario
How about a quick history lesson? Ontario has relaxed alcohol regulations over the past decade or so:
-
2015 – Wine and beer sales permitted in licensed grocery stores, including Walmart. This was a big shift!
-
2017 – LCBO launches pilot project, extending hours at some stores to 9am-11pm.
-
2019 – Licensed restaurants and delivery services can now deliver alcohol.
It‘s getting easier for us to grab alcohol conveniently. But the 11pm cut-off remains in place province-wide – and I don‘t see that changing any time soon!
Alcohol Sale FAQs
I get a lot of common questions about buying alcohol at Walmart. Let me tackle a few so you have all the specifics:
At what time does Walmart stop selling alcohol each night?
11:00pm! That‘s the strict cut-off enforced across all Ontario Walmart locations selling alcohol.
If I‘m in line before 11pm, can I still buy alcohol?
Nope! Alcohol sales must fully stop at 11:00pm sharp. Make sure to get your purchases done before that deadline.
Can I buy just beer or wine after 9pm?
No exceptions – all alcohol sales end at 11:00pm, whether it‘s beer, wine, spirits, ciders, or coolers.
What if my local Walmart closes alcohol sales early?
Extremely unlikely. The AGCO sets 11:00pm as the firm rule, so your Walmart must comply.
Are the rules different in other parts of Ontario?
Nope, 11:00pm cutoff everywhere in the province! Municipalities can‘t override it.
Can I buy alcohol on Sundays?
Yes! Sunday sales are fully permitted from 9am-11pm.
And there you have it – everything you could want to know about buying alcohol at Walmart in our province. Let me know if you have any other questions!
