Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025
Can you buy liquor from wholesale clubs like Costco or BJ’s in CT without a membership?
You can buy liquor at wholesale clubs like Costco or BJ’s in Connecticut without a membership. State law requires that alcohol retailers sell to the general public, meaning stores cannot restrict liquor sales to members only.
This rule applies even to membership-based warehouses such as Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s. In fact, many Connecticut Costco locations have a separate entrance for their liquor departments, allowing anyone 21 or older to shop without entering the main members-only area. Connecticut is one of several states, including Massachusetts, New York, and Michigan, where local laws override warehouse membership requirements for alcohol sales.
If a store employee says otherwise, you can politely ask to speak with a manager or show proof of the law. Just remember to bring valid ID, as all alcohol sales still require age verification under Connecticut law to ensure compliance with state regulations.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Consumer Reports Hey! You Can Buy Alcohol At Costco And Sam’s Club Without A Membership!
- Connecticut General Assembly Chapter 545 - Liquor Control Act
- The Takeout The States Where You Can Buy Alcohol At Costco Without A Membership
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Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network.
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