Tennesseans hosting holiday parties or hoping to imbibe on their own will need to make their alcohol purchases days in advance — or risk settling for beer. Read on to understand.

Why can't I buy wine at the grocery store the next two Mondays?

It's illegal for grocery and liquor stores in Tennessee to sell wine on certain holidays, including Christmas and New Year's Day. The next two Mondays are Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, which means you'll be out of luck if you wait until then to pick up a bottle at the store. (Not to mention, your grocery store might be closed for the holiday, anyway.)

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Can't I just pick up the wine or champagne on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve?

Not this year, you can't. Both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on Sundays this time around, and in Tennessee, stores are prohibited from selling wine on Sunday.

What about liquor?

Unless your liquor store is breaking the law, it will be closed this Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, because those Tennessee laws prohibiting wine sales on Sundays and holidays also apply to liquor.

I'm at the grocery store on Dec. 24, 25, 31 or Jan. 1. What do I do?

Don't try to sneak wine into your basket and hope the cashier doesn't notice. You are allowed to buy beer. Maybe try a hard cider if you're looking for alcohol that's sweet.

So I can buy beer on Christmas and New Year's Day?

Yes. But, again, your grocery store may be closed. If you find a gas station that's open, you should be good to go.

What if I really need to buy wine on one of these days?

If you're in a bind, the good news is you can still buy wine by the glass or bottle at bars. Find a restaurant or bar that's open and that sells wine by the bottle, go in and order a glass. Once they've poured you at least a glass, you can have the bartender recork the bottle and take it home with you.

To recap, this means there will be a two-week stretch in which stores can't sell wine or liquor on either Sunday or Monday?

Yes.

Stock up before it's too late, Tennesseans.