Liquor Store Near Me Open Now: Dublin Off Licence Hours

A last-minute craving for a bottle of wine or a sudden realisation you’re out of beer before guests arrive — finding a liquor store near you that’s still open can feel like a small emergency. Ireland’s off-licence rules are straightforward once you know them, and this guide lays out exactly when and where you can buy alcohol in Dublin, what the law says, and how to find a store that’s open right now.

Off licences in Ireland: Over 2,000 licensed premises · Legal alcohol sales hours (weekdays): 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM · Sunday opening typical: 12:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Largest off-licence chain in Dublin: Molloy’s Liquor Stores · Delivery options available in Dublin: Yes, from Molloy’s, Just Eat, and others

These rules form a predictable framework: know the day, know the hour, and you’ll rarely be caught out.

Five key facts from official sources capture the core rules at a glance:

The hours are fixed by law, with only a handful of calendar exceptions for special occasions.

What time can I buy alcohol in a shop in Ireland?

Legal hours for supermarkets and off licences

• Monday to Saturday: off-licences (including supermarkets) can sell alcohol from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM, according to Courts.ie – the official Irish courts guidance.
• Sunday and St Patrick’s Day: hours run from 12:30 PM to 10:00 PM, as confirmed by the VFI Pubs trade association.
• Public holiday eves get extended hours: if the eve falls on a weekday, sales are allowed until 12:30 AM the following day (Courts.ie). If it falls on a Sunday, hours run from 12:30 PM to 12:30 AM (same source).

Exceptions for special occasions

• Christmas Eve: 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM, even if Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday (Courts.ie).
• St Patrick’s Day in Dublin city centre: a voluntary restraint has been reported asking off-licences and supermarkets not to sell alcohol until after 4 PM (Irish Central – Dublin St Patrick’s Day coverage). This is not a legal requirement, but many stores comply.
• Good Friday: since the law change in 2018, off-licences can sell alcohol under normal rules (Castleforbes College – Irish law summary).

The implication: for most shoppers, the window is consistent and predictable — the exceptions only matter on a few specific days each year.

Can you buy alcohol after 10pm in Ireland at Tesco?

Tesco store policy vs legal restrictions

• No. Alcohol cannot be sold from off-licences after 10:00 PM on any day of the week, as established by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962 and its amendments (Courts.ie). Tesco, as a supermarket off-licence, is bound by the same law.
• After 10 PM, Tesco’s shelves may still display alcohol, but the tills are locked — no sale is legal, regardless of store policy.

Delivery services that can operate later

• Delivery platforms such as Just Eat list alcohol from partner stores, but those partners must still follow the same legal hours (no official exemption for delivery). A delivery cannot be placed after the store’s permitted closing time.
• Some off-licences with late-night delivery claims may rely on the extended eve-of-public-holiday hours, but these are rare and date-specific.

Do they have liquor stores in Ireland?

The term ‘off licence’ vs ‘liquor store’

• Yes, but they’re called off-licences. The term means a shop licensed to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises — exactly what a “liquor store” is in the US. Courts.ie – official Irish courts guidance uses “off-licence” throughout.
• “Liquor store” is understood in Ireland, especially in tourist areas, but locals will point you to the nearest off-licence.

Examples of major off-licence chains in Dublin

• Molloy’s Liquor Stores – multiple Dublin locations, known for wine, craft beer and spirits (Molloy’s official website – retail description).
• O’Brien’s Wine – independent chain with click & collect options.
• Supervalu, Dunnes Stores, Tesco – all operate off-licence sections under the same legal hours.

“We offer a wide selection of wine, craft beer and spirits with free delivery in Ireland.”

— Molloy’s official website (Molloy’s self-description)

What is the 2 2 2 rule for alcohol?

Origin of the 2-2-2 rule

• The 2-2-2 rule is a wellness guideline, not an Irish legal restriction. It suggests limiting alcohol to 2 drinks in 2 hours and taking at least 2 alcohol-free days per week (Castleforbes College references public health messaging).
• It is promoted by some health organisations as a moderation framework.

Does it apply to buying alcohol in shops?

• No. The 2-2-2 rule has nothing to do with off-licence purchase hours. You may have heard it in the context of responsible drinking campaigns — it’s a recommendation for personal consumption, not a shop restriction.
• Irish off-licence hours are set solely by the Intoxicating Liquor Act and the courts.ie guidance (Courts.ie).

Where can I find a liquor store near me open now?

Using Google Maps to find open off licences

1. Open Google Maps on your phone or computer.
2. Search for “off licence near me” or “liquor store near me”.
3. Tap the filter “Open now” to see only stores currently trading.
4. Check the store’s listed hours — many independent off-licences update their profiles with seasonal or holiday hours.

Popular chains like Molloy’s and O’Brien’s

• Molloy’s Liquor Stores operate at least six Dublin locations (Molloy’s website – store locator). Their standard weekday hours follow the 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM legal window.
• O’Brien’s Wine offers click & collect — order online and pick up during legal hours.

Delivery options on Just Eat and other platforms

• Just Eat lists alcohol delivery from partner off-licences in Dublin. Availability depends on the partner store’s hours (same legal hours apply).
• Molloy’s online store offers free delivery within Dublin (Molloy’s delivery policy).
• Always check the estimated delivery time — it must fall within the store’s legal trading window.

What are Molloy’s off licence opening hours?

Molloy’s Dublin store hours

• Molloy’s stores typically open 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM Monday to Saturday, in line with legal off-licence hours (Courts.ie – official Irish courts guidance).
• Sunday hours start later, around 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM, and close at 10:00 PM (VFI Pubs – Sunday guidance).
• Hours may vary by location, especially on public holidays. Check molloys.ie for exact times.

Quotes from industry sources

“Off-licences including supermarkets can sell alcohol Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 10:00pm.”

— Courts.ie – official Irish courts guidance (Tier 1 source)

“The Intoxicating Liquor Bill would allow nightclubs to open until 6am and pubs daily until 12:30am — a real risk to public and worker safety.”

— Alcohol Action Ireland – advocacy statement (Tier 2 source)

For anyone in Dublin searching for a liquor store open now, the hours are fixed by law — but the trick is knowing which exceptions apply. For locals, the advice is simple: know the day, check the clock, and if you’re after 10 PM, plan for tomorrow. For visitors, the translation is just as straightforward: off-licences are your liquor stores, 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM on weekdays, 12:30 PM start on Sunday. Miss that window and your next stop is a pub or a waiting game — there’s no 24-hour liquor store in Dublin.

Frequently asked questions