This directory gives contact and other facts for alcoholic beverage control agencies. Each state in the US is listed. They are by alphabetical order.
Overview
I. State Cont rol Boards.
II. Government Monopolies.
People have many questions about alcohol and drinking laws and regulations. They can be answered by local police. Others can be answered by the agency controlling alcohol within a state. But a warning. Answers about legal provisions for drinking under the age of 21 are sometimes wrong.
At the national level alcohol is regulated by the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). It was formerly the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF).
Alcoholic beverage control boards go by different names. Such as enforcement. Administration. Department. Unit. Some refer to alcohol, others to liquor.
Some emphasize tax collection. Others stress law enforcement. There is no uniformity among alcoholic beverage control boards.
See Government Monopolies at the bottom of the page for an explanation of government alcohol monopoly states. It tells what they are and how they came to be. And to see their results, visit Alcohol Monopolies.
I. State Alcoholic Beverage Control Boards
Alabama
Learn aboutAlabama Alcohol Laws.
Alabama is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
2715 Gunter Park Drive West
Montgomery, AL 36109
Phone: 334.271.3840
Fax: 334.277.2150
E-Mail: administrator@abc.alabama.gov
Alabama Wet/Dry Map.
Wet Cities List.
Alaska
Learn about Alaska Alcohol Laws.
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
Suite 1600
The Atwood Building,’¨550 West 7th Ave.’¨Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 907.269.0350
Fax: 907.334.2285
E-Mail: cynthia.franklin@alaska.gov
Dry/Damp Communities Map.
Arizona
Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.
Fifth Floor
800 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602.542.5141
Fax: 602.542.5707
TDD: 602.542.9024
and
Number 150
400 W. Congress
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: 520.628.6595
Fax: 520.628.662
Arkansas
Learn about Arkansas Alcohol Laws.
Alcohol Beverage Control.
Room 503
1515 W. Seventh Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501.682.1105
California
Frequently Asked Questions. [Link works.]
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.[Link works.]
Suite 100, 3927 Lennane Drive [Link works.]
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: 916.419.2500
E-Mail: cust.serev@abc.ca.gov
The California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2015.
Colorado
Learn about Colorado Alcohol Laws.
Colorado Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement.
Lakewood Office.
1881 Pierce Street #108
Lakewood, CO 80204
Phone 303.205.2300
Fax: 303.205.2341
DOR_LED@state.co.us
Colorado Springs Office.
2447 North Union Boulevard
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Phone: 719.594.8702
Fax: 719.594.8719
Grand Junction Office.
Suite G
632 Market Street
Grand Junction, CO 81506
Phone: 970.248.7133
Fax: 970.248.7124
Greeley Office.
Phone: 970.356.3992
Fax: 970.378.8896
Suite A
2320 Reservoir Road
Greeley, CO 80634
Connecticut
Learn about Connecticut Alcohol Laws.
Connecticut Liquor Control Division.
State Office Building
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860.713.6200
Fax: 860.713.7235
E-Mail: dcp.liquorcontrol@ct.gov
Top Ten Questions and Answers.
Delaware
Learn about Delaware Alcohol Laws.
Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.
Third Floor
Carvel State Office Building
820 N. French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302.577.5222
Toll free: 800.273.9500
Fax: 302.577.3204
District of Columbia
Learn about ABC Laws and Regulations.
Alcoholic Beverages Regulation Administration.
Suite S400
2000 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202.442.4423
Fax: 202.442-9563
TTY: 746.777.7776
Alternate Number: Hotline: 202.329.6347 (7 pm – 3 am)
Email: abra@dc.gov
Florida
Learn about Florida Alcohol Laws.
Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.
1940 N. Monroe
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: 850.488.3227
Fax: 850.922.5175
LaFayette, Liberty, Madison, and Washington counties are dry. Baker and Polk counties are dry on Sundays.
Georgia
Learn about Georgia Alcohol Laws.
Georgia Alcohol Licenses
Room 4235
1800 Century Center Boulevard, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30345-3205
Mailing address.
P.O. Box 49728
Atlanta, GA 30359
Phone: 404.417.4900
Fax: 404.417.4901
Hawaii
Honolulu
Liquor Commission City and County of Honolulu.
Suite 600
Pacific Park Plaza.
711 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: 808.523.4458
Toll-free: 800.838.9976
Fax: 808.591.2700
Hawaii
Department of Liquor Control’¨County of Hawaii .
East Hawaii.
Suite 230
Hilo Lagoon Center
101 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: 808.961.8218
Fax: 808.961.8684
West Hawaii.
Building B
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway
Kailua-Kona
HI 96740
Phone: 808.323.4370
Fax: 808.327.3550
E-mail: cohdlc@co.hawaii.hi.us
Kauai
Department of Liquor Control County of Kauai.
Suite 120
Mo’ikeha Building
Lihue Civic Center
4444 Rice Street,
Kauai, HI 96766
Phone: 808.241.6580
Fax: 808.241.6585
Maui
Department of Liquor Control.
Room 107
2145 Kaohu Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: 808.243.7753
Fax: 808.243.7558
Idaho
Learn about Idaho Alcohol Laws.
Idaho is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Idaho State Liquor Division.
1349 East Beechcraft Court
Boise, ID 83716
Phone: 208.947.9400
Fax: 208.947.9400
Illinois
Learn about Illinois Alcohol Laws
Illinois Liquor Control Commission.
Chicago Office.
7-801
100 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312.814.2206
Fax: 312.814.2241
Springfield Office.
3-525
101 W. Jefferson Street
Springfield, IL 62702
Phone: 217.782.2136
Fax: 217.524.1911
Indiana
Learn about Indiana Alcohol Laws.
Indiana Alcohol Rules and Laws.
Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission.
Room E-114
Indiana Government Center South
302 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317.232.2430
Fax: 317.234.1520
E-Mail Form located at: http://www.in.gov/atc/2411.htm
Iowa
Learn about Iowa Alcohol Laws.
Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.
1918 S.E. Hulsizer Road
Ankeny, IA 50021
Phone: 515.281.7400
Toll-free: 866.469.2223
Fax: 515.281.7400
Kansas
Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Room 214
915 SW Harrison Street
Topeka, KS 66625-3512
Phone: 785.296.7015
TTY: 785.296.6117
Fax: 785.296.7185
Kentucky
Learn about Kentucky Alcohol Laws.
Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Suite A-2
1003 Twilight Trail
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502.564.4850
Toll free: 888.847.7222
Fax: 502.564.7479
Email: ABC.Info@ky.gov
Louisiana
Learn about Louisiana Alcohol Laws.
Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.
Suite 220
8549 United Plaza Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone: 225.925.4041
Fax: 225.925.3975
Maine
Learn about Maine Alcohol Laws.
Maine is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations.
8 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: 207.287.3721
Fax: 207.287.4049
Maryland
Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury.
Alcohol Tax Unit.
404 Louis L. Goldstein Treasury Building
Annapolis, MD 21404-0466
Phone: 410.260.7314
Fax: 410.974.3808
Montgomery County is a government alcohol monopoly county.
Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control.
16650 Crabs Branch Way
Rockville, MD 20855
Phone: 240.777.1900
Massachusetts
Learn about Massachusetts Alcohol Laws.
Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
Second Floor
239 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02114-2130
Phone: 617.727.3040
Fax: 617.727.1258
Michigan
Learn about Michigan Alcohol Laws.
Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
7150 Harris Drive
Lansing, MI 48909-7505
Phone: 517.322.1345
Fax: 517.322.5188
Minnesota
Alcohol and Gambling and Enforcement
Skyway level
445 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101-2156
Phone: 651.201.7500
Fax: 651.297.5259
TTY: 651.282.6555
Mailing Address
Suite 222
445 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101-2156
Mississippi
Learn about Mississippi Alcohol Laws
Mississippi is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Alcoholic Beverage Control.
1286 Gluckstadt Road
Madison, MS 39110
Phone: 601.856.1301
Fax: 601.856.1390
Mailing Address
P. O. Box 540
Madison, MS 39130-0540
Missouri
Learn about Missouri Alcohol Laws
Missouri Alcohol and Tobacco Control
P.O. Box 837
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573.751.2333
Fax: 573.751.5399
Montana
Learn about Montana Alcohol Laws
Montana is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Montana Liquor Control
125 North Roberts
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: 406.444.0700 and 406.444.6900
Fax: 406.444.0750
E-mail: dorliquorcontrol@mt.gov.
Nebraska
Learn about Nebraska Alcohol Laws
Nebraska Liquor Control Commission
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509-5046
Phone: 402.471-2571
Fax: 402/471.2814
Nevada
Learn about Nevada Alcohol Laws
Nevada Department of Taxation
(All beverage alcohol permits are regulated by each individual county)
Carson City
Suite 115
1550 E. College Parkway
Carson City, NV 89706
Phone: 775.687.4892
Fax: 775.687.5981
Reno
Room 263
Building O
4600 Kietzke Lane
Reno, NV 89502
Phone: 775.688.1295
Fax: 775.688.1303
Elko
Number Two
850 Elm Street
Elko, NV 89803
Phone: 775/738-8461
Fax: 775/778-6814
Las Vegas
Suite 1300
Grant Sawyer Office Building
555 E. Washington Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Phone: 702/486-2300
Fax: 702/486-2372
New Hampshire
Learn about New Hampshire Alcohol Laws
New Hampshire is a government alcohol monopoly state.
New Hampshire State Liquor Commission
Robert J. Hart Building
Storrs Street
Concord, NH 03302-0503
Phone: 603.271.3134
Fax: 603.271.1107
Division of Enforcement
Suite 8
57 Regional Drive
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.271.3521
New Jersey
Learn about New Jersey Alcohol Laws
New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety ԬDivision of Alcoholic Beverage Control
140 East Front Street
Trenton, NJ 08625-0087
Phone: 609.984.2830
Fax: 609.633.6078
New Mexico
Alcohol and Gaming Division
725 St. Michael’s Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87504-5101
Phone: 505.827.7066
Fax: 505.827.7168
New York
Learn about New York Alcohol Laws
New York Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control РԬState Liquor Authority
84 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
Phone: 518.474.3114
Syracuse District
Room 205
333 E. Washington Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315.428.4198
Fax: 315.428.4201
New York City District
11 Park Place
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212.417.4002
Fax: 212.417.4910
Buffalo District
Room 556
125 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: 716.847.3035
Fax: 716.847.3435
North Carolina
Learn about North Carolina Alcohol Laws
North Carolina is a government alcohol monopoly state.
North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
3322 Garner Road
Raleigh, NC 27611- 6687
Phone: 919.779.0700
Fax: 919.662.1946
North Dakota
Learn about North Dakota Alcohol Laws
North Dakota Office of the State Tax Commissioner
Alcohol Tax Section
Department 127
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505-0599
Phone: 701.328.2702
Fax: 701.328.1942
Ohio
Learn about Ohio Alcohol Laws
Ohio Division Of Liquor Control
6606 Tussing Road
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-9005
Phone: 614.644.2411
Fax: 614.644.2513
Oklahoma
Alcoholic Beverage Law Enforcement Commission (ABLE)
Suite 200 Ԭ3812 N. Santa Fe
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118
Phone: 405.521.3484
Toll free: 866-894-3517
Fax: 405.521.6578
Oregon
Learn about Oregon Alcohol Laws
Oregon is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Oregon Liquor Control Commission
9079 S. E. McLoughlin Boulevard
Milwaukie, OR 97222
Phone: 503.872.5000
Toll free: 800.452.6522
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
Northwest Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17124-0001
Phone: 717.783.9454
Fax: 717.787.8820
Rhode Island
Learn about Rhode Island Alcohol Laws
Rhode Island Liquor Enforcement and Compliance
Suite 200
233 Richmond Street
Providence, RI 02903-4213
Phone: 401.222.2562
South Carolina
Learn about South Carolina Alcohol Laws
South Carolina Department of Revenue & Taxation
301 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29214-0137
Phone: 803.737.5000
Fax: 803.734.1401
Beverage Alcohol Licensing ‘“ 803.898.5864
South Dakota
Learn about South Dakota Alcohol Laws
South Dakota Alcohol Licensing
700 Governor’s Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2276
Phone: 605.773.3311
Fax: 605.773.6729
Tennessee
Learn about Tennessee Alcohol Laws
Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Room 600
226 Capitol Boulevard Building
Nashville, TN 37219-0755
Phone: 615.741.1602
Fax: 615.741.0847
Texas
Texas Alcohol Laws
Wet/Dry/Moist Map of One Texas County
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
5806 Mesa Drive
P.O. Box 13127
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711-3127
Phone: 512.206.3333
Fax: 512.206.3449
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
PO Box 13127
Austin, Texas 78711
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
5806 Mesa Dr
Austin, Texas 78731
Utah
Utah is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
1625 South 900 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84130
Phone 801.977.6800
Fax 801.977.6888
Restaurant License (full service)
Restaurant License (limited service)
On Premise Banquet and Catering License
Private Club License
On-Premise Beer License
Tavern License
Single Event Permit
Temporary Beer Permit
Vermont
Learn about Vermont Alcohol Laws
Vermont is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Vermont Department of Liquor Control
Drawer 20
Green Mountain Drive
Montpelier, VT 05620-4501
Phone: 802.828.2345
Fax: 802.828.2803
Virginia
Learn about Virginia Alcohol Laws
Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Virginia ABC’s main office:
2901 Hermitage Road
Richmond, VA 23220
Mailing address:
Virginia Department. of Alcoholic Beverage Control
P. O. Box 27491
Richmond, VA 23261
Phone: 804.213.4413
Fax: 804.213.4415
Virginia Wet/Dry County Map
Washington
Learn about Washington Alcohol Laws
Washington is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Washington Business License Services
Department of Licensing
P.O. Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98504-3075
Phone: 360.586.2784
Licensing: 360.586.6700
Fax: 360/586-1596
Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board
1025 East Union
Olympia, WA 98504-3075
Phone: 360-664-1600
West Virginia
Learn about West Virginia Alcohol Laws
West Virginia is a government alcohol monopoly state.
West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration
322 70th Street, S.E.
Charleston, WV 25304-2900
Phone: 304.558.2481
Toll free: 800.642.8208
Fax: 304.558.0081
Wisconsin
Learn about Wisconsin Alcohol Laws
Wisconsin Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement
Department of Revenue
4610 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53708
Phone: 608.266.3969
Fax: 608.264.9920
Wyoming
Learn about Wyoming Alcohol Laws
Wyoming is a government alcohol monopoly state.
Wyoming Liquor Division
1520 East 5th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: 307.777.7231
Fax: 307.777.5872
II. Government Monopolies
After Repeal of National Prohibition in 1933, not all states became wet. That is, not all permitted alcohol sales. Some kept their own prohibition for years. Even for decades. But most became wet. And many permitted counties or other jurisdictions to decide for themselves.
Prohibition failed miserably. It actually created enormous problems. But some states decided to restrict the sale of alcohol by government ownership of alcohol outlets. The venues are commonly called ABC stores. ABC is for “Alcoholic Beverage Control.” They tend to limit product selection and keep prices high. These states are called control states. But that’s misleading. All states control alcohol sales. They’re really government alcohol monopoly states.
Most states are called license states. The state sell licenses to others to sell alcohol. They impose control over the sale of alcohol. But they let customers determine what brands are popular. Which outlets give better service. Which outlets offer better value. And so on.
Some alcohol monopoly states sell one form of alcohol. But they sell licenses for other forms. An example is North Carolina. It sells licenses for beer and wine. So there’s a wide selection and competitive pricing for them. But only government stores may sell spirits.
This distinction is based on a myth. It’s that spirits are more “alcoholic” than beer and wine. Yet standard drinks of beer, wine and spirits have the same amount of alcohol. It’s 0.6 ounce of pure alcohol. When it comes to alcohol content, they’re the same. A breath tester can’t tell one from the other. There are no beverages of moderation. There are only behaviors of moderation.