If you want a Thanksgiving cocktail in Charlotte, you’ll need to plan ahead | Charlotte Observer

If you’re looking to buy booze for your Thanksgiving weekend, you’ll have to plan carefully.

In North Carolina, it’s unlawful to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays and certain holidays, including New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. You also can’t sell liquor between 9 p.m.-9 a.m., according to state law.

Beyond that, local Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) boards can determine the days on which their stores are closed.

So if you need an ingredient for a Thanksgiving cocktail, you have until 9 p.m. on Wednesday to visit stores in Mecklenburg County.

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Most stores resume normal business hours on Black Friday, when they will operate from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. The one exception on Black Friday is the ABC store at 1609 N. Graham St., which normally operates from noon-9 p.m., according to Julia Paul, a spokeswoman for the local ABC board.

Mecklenburg County is home to 25 ABC stores, Paul said.

If you’re trying to buy beer and wine on Thanksgiving, be sure to check local grocery store hours as well. Publix is closed Thursday, for instance, and Harris Teeter and Food Lion stores will close early. Some Total Wine stores have extended hours on Black Friday and shorter hours on Thanksgiving, and some are closed entirely on Thanksgiving, according to the company’s website.