Bars & Restaurants

Responsible gun ownership stretches beyond the home. As you head out to socialize with friends in bars or restaurants, remember:

It is illegal to consume alcohol if carrying a firearm.
The owner of the establishment has the right to ask you to leave if they do not wish firearms to be on the premises.
If the bar/restaurant has the correct “No Concealable Weapons” signs legally posted, you may not carry firearms in that establishment.

In South Carolina, yes, you can carry your firearm into a bar or restaurant. However, if you are carrying your firearm, it is unlawful to consume alcohol. SC Code § 16-23-465 (B)(1)
In South Carolina, carrying a firearm while consuming alcohol is illegal. If you are going to drink, don’t carry.
No. A properly stored firearm is not considered carrying.
Yes, the property/business owner has the legal right to ask you to leave because they do not want you to carry a firearm on their property. SC Code § 16-23-465 (B)(3)
No. Legally, there is no difference between open carry and concealed carry in South Carolina.
Post the proper ‘no concealable weapons allowed’ signs as prescribed by SC code SC Code § 23-31-235 at every entrance. The signs need to meet the legal requirements (i.e. correctly sized, proper height, etc.) in order to be enforceable.

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SCSafeCarry.com is a great place to learn about the basics of gun safety.

Taking the entire online course will teach you about firearm best practices, laws around gun ownership and more.

The in-person Safe Carry course will allow you to ask questions to a certified instructor and get your hands on sample safes.

For in-person training that includes time on a range with a certified instructor, you can sign up for a full Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) course.

All of these options are provided for free by the State of South Carolina.