For tourists and locals alike, restaurants and bars are a popular draw for Grand Strand nightlife. But for visitors hoping for cheap drink deals, alcoholic beverages can be surprisingly costly. Because of local liquor taxes, drink prices that don’t include taxes can show up considerably more expensive on a receipt than on a menu.
While alcoholic beverages purchased from stores are still taxed, the items are considered retail purchases, which have lower tax rates. Alcohol bought from liquor or grocery stores in the city of Myrtle Beach is taxed at 9% and alcohol bought in stores everywhere else in Horry County is taxed at 8%.
However, alcoholic drinks purchased at restaurants, bars and other establishments intended for on-premises consumption have different rates. Here’s how those taxes break down.
Booze tax breakdown
Most restaurant purchases in Atlantic Beach, Aynor, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and unincorporated areas of Horry County are taxed at 10.5%, according to Horry County director of public information Mikayla Moskov. This includes foods, non-alcoholic drinks and all non-liquor alcoholic beverages, like beer and wine.