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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Types of South Carolina Liquor Licenses
- Liquor License Requirements for South Carolina
- Understanding Liquor Laws in South Carolina
- How Much Does a Liquor License Cost in South Carolina?
- How to Apply for a Liquor License in South Carolina
- How to Renew Your South Carolina Liquor License
- Getting a Beer and Wine License in South Carolina: Closing Thoughts
- FAQs
Changes are afoot in the South Carolina beverage industry, with recent headlines suggesting residents may soon vote on whether to permit liquor stores to open on a Sunday.[1]The Drinks Business. “South Carolina residents push to vote on liquor store opening days.” Accessed January 24, 2025. However, while some of the state’s liquor laws date back to the prohibition era, its alcohol licensing process has been modernized to be business-friendly. Still, it’s critical to understand how the application works to avoid any delays in receiving your business’s liquor license.
This guide explores the types of South Carolina liquor licenses, requirements, costs, how to get a liquor license in South Carolina, and other related topics. If you want to sell liquor in South Carolina, this guide is for you!
Types of South Carolina Liquor Licenses
In South Carolina, retail alcohol licenses have four categories: Beer & Wine Permits, Liquor Licenses, Special Events, and Food. For the purpose of this guide, we’ll explore the Beer & Wine Permits and Liquor Licenses for retail businesses:
Beer & Wine Permits
- 7-Day Off-Premises Beer & Wine (P7B): Permits to-go beer and wine sales seven days per week without any restrictions on the hours of the sale. This permit type is only available in counties or municipalities where Sunday sales are permitted.
- 7-Day On-Premises Beer & Wine (PO7): Permits on-premises beer and wine sales and consumption seven days per week without any restrictions on the hours of the sale. This permit type is only available in counties or municipalities where Sunday sales are permitted.
- Brewpub (PBB): Permits the manufacturing of beer, sale of beer and wine, and consumption of beer and wine on the premises.
- Off-Premises Beer & Wine (PBG): Permits the sale of wine and beer (to-go).
- On-Premises Beer & Wine (PBW): Permits the sale of wine and beer both to-go and for on-premises consumption.
- Sabbath Observed Beer & Wine (PRB): Permits the sale of beer and wine if your business is also closed on a Saturday for religious reasons. This is only an option in counties where Sunday sales are permitted.
Liquor Licenses
- Business (Restaurant or Hotel) Liquor by the Drink (PLB): Permits hotels, motels, and restaurants to sell alcohol by the drink for on-premises consumption (as well as to-go).
- Local Option Permit (LOP): Permits food establishments with an existing liquor license to sell and consume alcohol during restricted hours. This is only available to businesses in counties or municipalities that allow the issuance of temporary permits.
- Nonprofit (Private Club) Liquor by the Drink (PLC): Permits the sale and consumption of alcohol within private clubs. This license is only available to nonprofits chartered by the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office. Likewise, private clubs cannot serve alcohol to members of the public.
- Professional Sports Venue (PSV): Permits the sale of wine, liquor, and beer for consumption at a professional soccer team’s stadium, a professional baseball team’s stadium, the Credit One Tennis Facility, and Darlington Raceway.
- Retail Liquor Store (PRL): Permits retail stores to sell wines (containing up to 21% alcohol by volume) and liquor.
What type of liquor license do I need?
The type of liquor license you need depends on your business, the liquor you sell, the type of premises you operate, the days you want to sell alcohol, and more. For example, if you want to sell beer and wine to-go seven days per week, you need a 7-Day Off-Premises Beer & Wine (P7B) License. However, if you want to sell alcohol at a bar in a hotel, you need a Business (Restaurant or Hotel) Liquor by the Drink (PLB).
Liquor License Requirements for South Carolina
South Carolina has detailed requirements for businesses applying for liquor licenses. Additional requirements vary depending on the type of license. The Department of Revenue website has a full checklist of requirements.
- You must be 21 or over
- You must be a citizen of the United States (you must also be a legal South Carolina resident for at least 30 days before applying)
- If your business serves alcohol past 5 PM, you must meet strict liability insurance requirements
- Your business must follow all state and local zoning laws (i.e., your business must be at least 300 yards from a church, playground, or school)
- Restaurants must follow strict rules regarding food preparation requirements
Other necessary permits
South Carolina retailers must have a Retailers License, and restaurants serving alcohol must have a Grade A Restaurant License. Likewise, your municipality or county may have its own permitting or zoning requirements, so always check with local authorities before starting your new business.
Understanding Liquor Laws in South Carolina
Let’s explore some liquor license laws you must follow in South Carolina:
- You must be 21 to pour alcohol
- You must be 18 to serve alcohol
- There’s no age limit on selling alcohol in original, sealed containers
- Liquor store sales are from 9 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays)
- Beer sales are 24 hours, Monday through Saturday (Sunday sales permitted in some counties and municipalities)
- Liquor sales in Restaurants and hotels are 10 AM to 2 AM, Monday through Saturday, and 10 AM to 2 AM on Sunday
However, liquor license laws in the state continue to evolve, so make sure to stay up-to-date on legislation to ensure your business remains compliant. For example, South Carolina made headlines recently with news that many bars and restaurants in the state are petitioning authorities to lower excessive liability insurance premiums. Due to a law passed in 2017, premises serving alcohol past 5 PM require a million dollars in liability insurance coverage — and the premiums are making it challenging for many companies to remain solvent.[2]The State. “Fewer bars, restaurants will serve alcohol in S.C. unless this state law changes” Accessed January 24, 2025.
How Much Does a Liquor License Cost in South Carolina?
Liquor licenses in South Carolina require a filing fee. The cost is $300 per Beer & Wine Permit application and $200 per Liquor License application. In addition to the filing fees, here are the costs for alcohol licenses in South Carolina:
- 7-Day Off-Premises Beer & Wine (P7B): $2,200 (for two years)
- 7-Day On-Premises Beer & Wine (PO7): $2,200 (for two years)
- Brewpub (PBB): $2,200 (for two years)
- Off-Premises Beer & Wine (PBG): $600 (for two years)
- On-Premises Beer & Wine (PBW): $600 (for two years)
- Sabbath Observed Beer & Wine (PRB): $650 (for two years)
- Business (Restaurant or Hotel) Liquor by the Drink (PLB): $1,705 (for two years)
- Local Option Permit (LOP): $200 per Sunday or $3,050 for a year
- Nonprofit (Private Club) Liquor by the Drink (PLC): $1,700 (for two years)
- Professional Sports Venue (PSV): $6,100 (for two years)
- Retail Liquor Store (PRL): $1,400 (for two years)
How to Apply for a Liquor License in South Carolina
Fortunately, there’s no need to submit a paper application when you apply for a liquor license in South Carolina. Businesses can now apply online via myDORWAY. To start the application, head to myDORWAY and follow the instructions. For some licenses, you may need to upload documentation, so make sure to check the requirements of the specific license you’re applying for before starting the process.
When you apply for a South Carolina alcohol license, you will also need to post a public notice in a local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks. The applicable newspaper will vary depending on where your business is operating (the South Carolina Department of Revenue will determine which newspaper you must place the ad within). You can find out more information on public notices on the South Carolina Press Association website.
How to Renew Your South Carolina Liquor License
Each county has its own renewal date in South Carolina, so there’s no uniform time when all liquor licenses in the state are due to be renewed. Likewise, this renewal date alternates on even and odd years, so it’s not the same time each year. Fortunately, you’ll receive a notification to renew your license two months before the renewal date. This notice includes all instructions for the renewal process, so follow the steps outlined in the guide. And yes, you can renew your license online!
Getting a Beer and Wine License in South Carolina: Closing Thoughts
Now that you understand everything you must know to obtain a liquor license in South Carolina, it’s time to get started. Many licenses take a minimum of six to eight weeks to receive, so it’s critical to start the process as soon as possible to avoid any delays. Once you do obtain your new South Carolina liquor license, you’ll benefit from a marketplace with more than 2.81 million residents over 21.[3]InfoPlease. “SC Demographic Statistics” Accessed January 24, 2025.
Another must-do is obtaining a payment processing partner. Bar and restaurant credit card processing empowers you to accommodate in-person payments as well as online to-go orders, delivery, and curbside pickup, giving your customers more flexibility that they’ll appreciate. We offer 24/7 merchant support with white-glove service to help your business thrive. Contact us today to see what we can do for you.
FAQs
How long does it take to get a liquor license in South Carolina?
South Carolina officials claim the process for receiving a liquor license in the state often takes six to eight weeks. However, if there are issues with the license application or a member of the public protests against the license, the process may take up to six months (assuming the liquor license application isn’t rejected).
Do you need a liquor license to sell beer or wine in South Carolina?
To sell beer or wine in South Carolina, you must have a Beer & Wine Permit to sell alcohol in the state. Ensure you have the appropriate Beer & Wine Permit before you begin selling beverages to customers. Otherwise, you may face criminal or financial repercussions.
Is it hard to get a liquor license in South Carolina?
Fortunately, getting a liquor license in South Carolina is much easier than in many other states. There are no quotas on liquor licenses, so you won’t need to bid for one in an expensive auction. Likewise, as most of the application process is online, you can apply from the comfort of your home or office.
How long does a South Carolina liquor license last?
Most liquor licenses in South Carolina have a two-year expiry period. However, there are some Special Event Permits that only last for a short period of time. Always renew your license on time to avoid any issues selling alcoholic beverages in your business.
How do I get a temporary or one-day liquor license in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, Special Event Licenses are available to businesses or organizations hosting one-day or temporary events. For example, there’s a Beer & Wine Special Event license that permits the sale of beer and wine at a special event for $10 per day. You can apply online via myDORWAY.
