​​The fastest, easiest way to submit these forms and apply for a Retail Liquor Store License is by using our free online tax portal, MyDORWAY. After logging in, select the More tab, then click Apply for a New Alcohol Beverage License.​​

• Application for Retail Beer, Wine, and Liquor (ABL-90​1) – Select Retail Liquor Store (PRL)
• Verification of Lawful Presence in the United States – Applicant and Principals (ABL-920)
• Applicant and Principal Consent and Waiver (ABL-946​​)
  • ​​If you’re applying on MyDORWAY, the ABL-920 and ABL-946 are part of the online application, and you do not need to submit or attach paper copies.
• ABL Lease Supplemental Information (ABL-977​)
  • If applying on MyDORWAY, scan and upload the ABL-977 as an attachment.​​

As part of the application process, you must notify the public of your application by running an advertisement in an approved newspaper.​ The SCDOR will notify SLED to post a sign at your business location.

SLED sign posting

• ​A SLED agent must post and remove a sign at the proposed place of business.
• This sign must remain posted for at least 15 days and may be removed only by the SLED agent.
  • If the sign disappears before the SLED agent removes it, contact the SCDOR or SLED immediately.

Newspaper legal advertisement 

• You are required to notify the public of ​your application by placing a legal advertisement in an SCDOR-approved newspaper for your area at least once a week for three consecutive weeks.
  • See the ​Approved Newspapers for ABL Legal Advertisements list (​ABL-32)​.
    • If you submit your legal advertisement in a non-approved newspaper, you will be required to re-run an advertisement in an approved newspaper.
• The legal advertisement must:
  • state the type of license applied for and the exact location of the proposed business
  • be posted in the legal notices section of the approved newspaper, or an equivalent section if the newspaper has no legal notices section
  • be in large type and cover a space of one column wide and at least two inches deep
• You must submit an Affidavit of Publication from the newspaper running the legal advertisement.
  • If the newspaper does not submit the Affidavit of Publication on ​your behalf, you can attach the affidavit as part of the application on MyDORWAY.
  • The affidavit must include a copy of the advertisement.
  • The SCDOR will not issue your license until we receive an affidavit from an approved newspaper.

• The existing business must have a biennial Retail Liquor Store License that has not expired, been suspended, or been revoked.
• You must apply for a new Retail License with the SCDOR. If you have not yet applied for a Retail License, get started here​.
• You must submit a new ABL-901​ application. Whether applying on MyDORWAY or with a paper form, you must check the box indicating that you are applying for a temporary 120-day license. Your application must include:
  • your Retail License number
  • a copy of the previous business’s valid Retail Liquor Store License
  • a copy of the bill of sale, lease, probate document, divorce decree, eviction order, or document showing how the business was acquired.
• You will be required to place a legal advertisement in an approved newspaper for your area at least once a week for three consecutive weeks prior to receiving your Retail Liquor Store License. However, you only need to provide proof to the SCDOR that you have paid for this advertisement prior to receiving your temporary 120-day license. See Required signs and notices above for complete details.​​ ​

As of June 2022, a Retail Liquor Store license holder may operate a maximum of six retail liquor stores. After the first three stores are established, the next three stores must be:

• in a county with a population of 250,000 or more, and
• only two stores may be located in the same county

Based on the 2020 US Census, the following counties have a population of 250,000 or more:

• Charleston
• Greenville
• Horry
• Lexington
• Richland
• Spartanburg
• York

​In accordance with SC Code Sections 61-6-1540​ and 61-6-1505​​ you may sell the following items:

• ​nonalcoholic items, such as drinking glassware, packaged together with alcoholic liquors.
  • The glassware and alcoholic liquors must be packaged together by the wholesaler or producer in packaging provided by the producer.
• lottery tickets, under the provisions of Chapter 150 of Title 59​

(B) Retail dealers licensed pursuant to the provisions of this article may sell all wines in the stores or places of business covered by their respective licenses, whether declared alcoholic or non-alcoholic or non-intoxicating by the laws of this state. Wines containing more than 16 1/2% ABV may be sold only in licensed alcoholic liquor stores or in establishments licensed to sell and permit consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink. The provisions of this section do not amend, alter, or modify the taxes imposed on wines or the collection and enforcement of these taxes.​

Retail Liquor Store license holders may not sell wine with an ABV greater than 21%.

Under no circumstances may a retail liquor store operate on Sunday.

Retail Liquor Store license holders may only sell and distribute to on-premises liquor by the drink locations if they hold a Class B Wholesaler’s Permit and provide a copy of the permit to SCDOR.

Retail Liquor Store license holders may sell liquor and wine from their retail liquor store to their own restaurant or hotel so long as they make the sales at their standard, advertised price, and they hold a Class B Wholesaler’s Permit and provide a copy of the permit to SCDOR.

Regulation 7-300.4​ allows for a retail liquor store to transfer alcoholic liquor to another retail liquor store if:

(a) the same person holds the license for both retail stores;
(b) the transfer is made by common carrier, a licensed wholesaler’s truck, or by vehicle owned and operated by the licensee;
(c) the transfer is properly documented as required by the regulation; and
(d) notice of the transfer is provided to SCDOR in advance. Section 61-6-2430 allows a wholesale distributor to provide pricing discounts “based on quantity purchases if all discounts are on price only for each location, appear on the sales records, and are available to all licensed retail dealers….” S.C. Code Ann. 61-6-2430.

Accordingly, a retail liquor store may transfer alcoholic liquor to another store but is prohibited from aggregating purchases from a licensed wholesaler to qualify for the quantity discount allowed by S.C. Code Ann. § 61-6-2430.

The SCDOR is tasked with administering the provisions of Title 61 including the accompanying regulations. S.C. Code Ann. 61-2-20 & 61-2-30. When a statute and a regulation can be applied in a contradictory manner, the SCDOR will make every effort to reconcile them so as to render both operative. In this circumstance, the Department will not prohibit a retail liquor licensee from transferring alcoholic liquor between stores simply because that dealer qualified for quantity discounts at one store but not another. On the other hand, the Department must ensure that retail liquor licensees are not unlawfully intermixing orders to falsely obtain quantity discounts.

Toward that end, the SCDOR will not absolutely prohibit a licensee from transferring alcoholic liquor obtained from a wholesaler at a quantity pricing discount (“the discounted product”). Nevertheless, there must be limitations on the manner and quantity of allowable transfers. 

• ​​The discounted product may not be transferred to a receiving location unless the identical product is routinely​ purchased from a wholesaler and stocked on shelves at the receiving location.
• The discounted product may not be transferred from one licensed location to another within 60 days of delivery to transferring licensed location.
• No more than 40 liters of the identical discounted product may be transferred from the original purchasing licensed location to any receiving location.
• When transferring discounted product, the licensee must so designate the product on the notice form supplied to the SCDOR.

These limitations are not applicable if the receiving location qualifies for the same or more favorable quantity discounts as the transferring location. Both the transferring location and the receiving location should maintain sufficient records to demonstrate adherence to these guidelines or that the guidelines are inapplicable.

All sales must be made prior to 7:00 pm, and the business must close. South Carolina law prohibits the sale of liquor after 7:00 pm, without exception.

No, that is not allowed. Any mixers that are sold in a retail liquor store must contain some percentage of alcohol.

Yes, but the lottery must truly be free to enter.

No, this would be considered a raffle. Only nonprofit organizations are allowed to hold raffles. Retail liquor stores can not.

Yes. However, loyalty club membership must not require payment or be based on previous purchases.

• Regulation 7–3​00.4.​ Transfers of Alcoholic Liquor Between Retail Stores
• SC Code Section 61-2-20​ – Administration and enforcement
• SC Code Section 61-2-30​​ – ​Personnel​
• SC Code Section 61-6-141 – Restricts the number of licenses a person or entity can hold
• SC Code Section 61-6-151 – Outlines degrees of interest in retail liquor stores
• SC Code Section 61-6-195 – Requires certification of purchases
• SC Code Sections 61-6-1500 & 61-6-1510 – Outlines unlawful practices
• SC Code Section 61-6-1530​ – Required signs to be posted
• SC Code Section 61-6-1540​ – Prohibits nonalcoholic merchandise
• SC Code Section 61-6-2430​​ – Discounting of prices by wholesale distributor