On New Year's Day, for the first time in Colorado, you'll be able to buy full-strength beer at grocery and convenience stores.

Colorado's 3.2 beer's days are numbered. On January 1st, 2019 real, full-strength beer will be available for purchase pretty much everywhere. It's "last call" for 3.2! It's about time. Not being from here, the law seemed odd to me. For such a "progressive" state with pot shops in nearly every town and the home of craft beer, it seemed to me a guy would be able to pick up a 6-pack at the local convenience store. And not only at the "Quickie Mart" but full-strength beer will available at grocery stores, Walmart, Target, and Sam’s Club. The hours for beer sales will daily from 8 AM to 12 midnight.

The new law only affects beer sales. The law isn't changing where you can buy wine and liquor. In Colorado, only licensed liquor stores can sell wine and hard liquor. Again, seems odd to me. Back home in Missouri, you can buy hard liquor by the case at Sam's Club. Also too, hard cider is considered "wine" under the law, so to get full-strength versions of cider you'll still need to make a liquor store stop.

Another big change to the law is that grocery stores and other retailers like Walmart and Costco can obtain more licenses (previously, they were only allowed one liquor license in the state). Now that next door liquor shop will soon be a reality at the grocery store.

If you're wondering what will happen to 3.2, it's done. Most brewers stopped making the stuff months ago. Distributors will stop delivering it about the middle of the month and stores that carried it look to clear the shelves to make room for the real stuff on January 1st. Only Utah and Minnesota will still be selling 3.2.

One more change, anyone age 18 or older can sell beer in Colorado on 1/1/19. Previously, liquor store employees had to be 21. And yes, you still have to be 21 to buy beer in Colorado. So let's toast to the end of 3.2! It's about time. The law dates back to prohibition days. The new law is a nice start the New Year!

Credit: Colorado Sun

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