What time do shops stop selling alcohol in Latvia?
Since 1 August 2025 — much earlier than before. Retail sale of alcoholic drinks is prohibited on weekdays and Saturdays from 20:00 until 10:00 the next day, and on Sundays from 18:00 until 10:00 on Monday. In practice that means: on a weekday or Saturday you can buy from 10:00 to 20:00, and on Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. The old “until 22:00” no longer applies, and that is exactly where people get caught out, arriving at the shop at nine in the evening. Online has its own trap: alcohol ordered on a website or in an app may be delivered no earlier than six hours after the order — “order now, deliver in half an hour” does not work. Municipalities may impose even stricter limits in their territory, so the window can be shorter one district over.
📋 The rules
- Weekdays and Saturdays: 10:00–20:00
- Sundays: 10:00–18:00
- At all other times sale is prohibited
- Online orders: delivery no sooner than 6 h later
- Municipalities may set stricter limits
🔓 Exceptions
- Separate rules apply to bars, restaurants and other catering venues
- Municipalities may further restrict the place and time of sale
- Alcohol still may not be sold to anyone under the age of 18
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Here the fine falls on the seller, not the buyer. For retail sale or delivery of alcohol outside the permitted hours, the fine for an employee of the legal person — a courier or shop assistant, say — is up to €70, while the legal person itself faces €70–1,400. That is why the till simply will not scan alcohol after 20:00, and arguing with the cashier is pointless: the penalty is theirs, not yours, and nobody will risk their wages over it. And do not forget the age limit: alcohol may not be sold to anyone under 18, so ID is requested even when you look considerably older. Municipalities can go further and restrict both the hours and the places of sale — near schools, for example.
📎 Official sources
- likumi.lv · Law on the Handling of Alcoholic Beverages →
- Ministry of Health · Alcohol policy →
- LV portāls · Changes to alcohol rules →
❓ Frequently asked
When does alcohol sale stop?
On weekdays and Saturdays alcohol may be sold from 10:00 until 20:00, and on Sundays only until 18:00. Outside those hours retail sale is prohibited throughout the country, and the till will not scan it.
Does “until 22:00” still apply?
It does not. The earlier limit of 22:00 no longer operates — since 1 August 2025 the trading window has been shortened by two hours. This is where misunderstandings, and wasted trips to the shop, most often arise.
Can I buy online at any hour?
You can order, but alcohol bought on a website or in a mobile app may be delivered no earlier than six hours after the order is placed. Instant delivery is not possible, and that applies to courier services too.
What is the penalty for breaking the rule?
For selling or delivering outside permitted hours an employee faces a fine of up to 70 euros, and the legal person from 70 to 1,400 euros. The buyer is not fined, so responsibility rests with the shop and the courier.
Can a municipality set different hours?
It can, but only stricter ones. Municipalities may further restrict the hours and places of alcohol sale in their administrative territory, so the rules differ and a neighbouring district may close earlier.
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