You Don’t Need a Costco Membership to Buy Alcohol in These 14 States

Keeping your home bar stocked has become an expensive luxury that many have cut from their budgets, but there's a secret Costco shopping hack that could let you restock at affordable prices even without membership — if you live in one of these 14 states. 

Residents in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Vermont are all in luck:

These states all have local laws that prevent refusal of alcohol sales to anyone who is of the legal age. That even includes membership-based stores, so Costco is included.  

Thirty-one states allow Costco to sell hard spirits in addition to beer and wine, which could make membership worth it to save money on your booze budget. Kirkland Signature is known to have quality dupes on top-shelf brands, so your after-work drinks will taste the best. 

See the states where you can purchase liquor at Costco. 

In Alabama, you need to be a Costco member to buy booze. The stores sell beer, wine, and liquor, but the hard stuff may be sold in a separate wing of the stores.

Alaska is another state where you can get beer, wine, and liquor at Costco — but you do need to have a membership to nab those discounts.

In Arizona, you can enjoy Costco’s discount beers, wines, and liquors even if you're not a member.

In Arkansas, Costco discounts on beer and wine are only available to members — but anybody can purchase liquor from the state’s sole store.

You can buy whatever type of alcohol you want — liquor, wine, or beer — at California Costcos whether you're a member or not.

You can buy liquor at some Costco stores in Colorado whether you are a member or not — but not all stores sell alcohol, so make sure you call ahead before making the trek.

Like Colorado, Connecticut will also sell discount liquor to members and non-members alike — but not every store carries alcohol.

No membership is required to buy beer, wine, or liquor at Delaware’s only Costco, and shopping in the state is tax-free.

In the Sunshine State, you do need to be a member to purchase beer, wine, or liquor — but you should be able to pick up booze at any store.

Some Costcos in Georgia carry beer, wine, and liquor, but not all. Among the few that do have liquor sections, both members and non-members can shop.

Hawaii is another state where all customers — member or not — can purchase booze at Costco.

In Illinois, beer, wine, and liquor are available in all stores, but you must be a Costco member to purchase booze.

No membership is needed in the Hoosier State. The liquor sections at Costcos in Indiana are open to all.

Costcos in Iowa should all be stacked with beer, wine, and liquor — but you do need to have a membership to shop.

You don’t need to have a membership to take advantage of Costco’s excellent deals on booze in Kentucky, as the liquor section is open to all.

In Louisiana you do need that Costco membership to purchase liquor, and you should be able to do so at all stores.

You can buy whatever booze you’d like at Costco warehouses in Massachusetts whether you are a member or not.

Like many Midwestern states, Michigan Costcos sell alcohol of all sorts, and both members and non-members can take advantage of the prices.

Minnesota is another state on the list (the last state on this list, actually) that sells all sorts of alcohol—beer, wine, and liquor—to both members and non-members.

Mississippi’s situation is a bit more complex. While Costco warehouses in the state sell beer, wine, and liquor, you need a membership to purchase beer. Non-members can buy liquor, though.

Missouri Costcos sell beer, wine, and liquor — but you will need a membership to buy.

You can get beer, wine, and liquor at Costcos across Nebraska as well, but you will need that membership.

As you’d expect from the state that surrounds Las Vegas, all sorts of booze (including hard liquor) is available at Costco stores in Nevada, but you do need to be a member to buy.

New Jersey is a toss-up as some Costcos sell beer, wine, and liquor in the warehouse, others have it in a separate store, and some don’t sell any alcohol at all. Jersey is another state where it’s best to call ahead and check.

In New Mexico, you must be a member to partake, but all warehouses should have beer, wine, and liquor.

You don’t have many options for buying liquor from New York State Costcos. While warehouses do sell beer to members, only the Oceanside location sells wine and liquor (but non-members can buy these as well).

In North Dakota, you can buy beer, wine, and liquor at warehouses throughout the state so long as you have a membership.

In South Carolina, you will need the membership and can plan to find beer, wine, and liquor at each warehouse.

South Dakota only has one Costco (in Sioux Falls), but as long as you’re a member, you can pick up beer, wine, and liquor there.

A Costco membership in Washington State gets you access to all the beer, wine, and liquor your warehouse has to offer, but non-members should look elsewhere.

D.C. only has one Costco, but if you’re a member, you can get all sorts of booze (including hard liquor) there.

Across Wisconsin, Costco members can find beer, wine, and liquor on the shelves at all their warehouses.

Costco is known to have great deals year-round on its Kirkland brand, and plenty of fans of the wholesale giant have grown to love Kirkland-branded booze. 

If you live in a state where membership is required to buy liquor, it just may be worth signing up for a Costco membership.