Where to buy groceries and booze over the Easter weekend

Here’s where you can and can’t shop over the Easter weekend.

To most of Australia’s chagrin, every year liquor trading laws restrict the sale of booze over the Easter weekend – especially on Good Friday.

Supermarkets also typically shut up shop on the same days, but the major players in Australia are variously open and closed at different points during the weekend.

While most Aussies plan ahead and stock up for the long weekend before shops close for Friday, there are still ways to get around the trading laws if you get caught dry or hungry.

NSW

There are strict laws on alcohol sales on Good Friday in NSW banning all sales of takeaway alcohol, and licensed venues are only allowed to serve on premises between 12pm and 10pm.

Essentially, bottle shops are closed and pubs cannot sell takeaway booze.

A distillery might be the way to go if you want a Good Friday tipple. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

However venues with a producer’s licence – such as a brewery or a distillery – are still allowed to sell their goods, so a local brewery will be the place to be to stock up on craft beers or premixed cocktails.

Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, BWS and Dan Murphy’s are all closed on Good Friday, but they will all be open on Easter Sunday - some with reduced trading hours, depending on the area.

Victoria

The main bottle shops will also be closed on Good Friday in Victoria, but shops with a general, on-premises or restaurant and cafe licence can still supply liquor on Good Friday between 12 noon and 1am the following morning.

Shops or venues with a club licence can also supply booze from 12pm on Good Friday, but similar to NSW, if you head to a local brewery or distiller then you can be served from 10am.

There are no restrictions on trading on Easter Sunday.

All major supermarkets will be closed on Good Friday, as well as Dan Murphy’s and BWS, but they will reopen the next day.

Victoria has no trading restrictions on Easter Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Queensland

In Queensland, takeaway alcohol cannot be sold on Good Friday but there are allowances if you buy it with a meal.

The state government said “you can sell and supply liquor from 10am to midnight, but only with a meal, in a part of the premises ordinarily set aside for dining”.

“The meal must be prepared, served and eaten on the premises,” they said.

“A meal is food that can be eaten with cutlery while seated — for example, roast beef with vegetables, lasagne, a stir-fry or a curry with rice.

“It is not light takeaway food like snacks, hot chips, an entree or kid’s meal.”

They also specify that patrons may buy booze to drink with their meal from one hour before to one hour after eating their meal.

Coles, Aldi, Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s and BWS will close on the Friday and reopen on Saturday.

In Queensland, takeaway alcohol cannot be sold on Good Friday but there are allowances if you buy it with a meal. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

South Australia

Spurning its former reputation as the driest Good Friday in the country, South Australia has relaxed laws to lift most Easter restrictions.

Following reforms from several years ago, people can now attend pubs, clubs and most other venues on Good Friday – and even takeaway sales are allowed.

Some venues still choose to close, but it is not mandated.

A few Coles stores will stay open for Good Friday, but the rest will be closed along with other supermarkets and BWS and Dan Murphy’s. Like other states though, stores will reopen the following day.

Western Australia

On Good Friday, people can order a drink with a meal in most clubs, pubs, restaurants and hotels, but takeaways and bottle shops are both banned.

The WA state government provides a clause if you don’t finish your drink, however, and writes “a person may remove any unconsumed portion of that wine from the licensed premises when they leave”.

Nightclubs are also allowed to stay open until 3am.

Woolworths, Aldi, Coles, BWS and Dan Murphy’s will all shut on Good Friday.

They will reopen the next day and stay open for Sunday.

Tasmania and the ACT have no alcohol restrictions on Good Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Tasmania

There are no restrictions on booze sales on Good Friday in Tasmania, outside of the same ones that apply every other day of the year.

Northern Territory

The NT bans takeaway alcohol sales on Good Friday, but that is one of the only restrictions.

People can still buy a drink with a “full meal” at a restaurant, pub or club from 11am until 9pm.

Supermarkets including Woolies, Coles, Aldi and bottle shops including Dan Murphy’s and BWS will shut on Friday but open again on Saturday.

Australian Capital Territory

There are no restrictions on alcohol sales on Good Friday in the ACT.