Liquor Stores on Captiva: Where to Buy Beer, Wine and Spirits
Captiva has no big-box liquor store, but you can buy beer, wine and spirits on the island itself. The Island Store near Andy Rosse Lane and South Seas Spirits inside the resort’s shopping area are the two places to know. For the widest selection of bottles, most guests make one stop on Sanibel on the drive in. This guide covers where to go, what the rules are and how to stock a vacation home so the first sunset on the lanai arrives with a cold drink in hand.
TL;DR
On Captiva, The Island Store sells beer, wine and liquor from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and South Seas Spirits at The Shops at South Seas sells higher-end spirits, wine, beer and mixers.
For the biggest selection, stop at one of the dedicated liquor stores on Periwinkle Way in Sanibel before you cross to Captiva.
In Florida, grocery stores, CVS and similar chains sell beer and wine, but spirits come from a package store.
You must be 21 to buy alcohol, and hours can vary, so confirm with the store before you make a special trip.
Plan your order before arrival: a quick stop on the way in beats a mid-vacation drive off-island.
Table of Contents
Is there a liquor store on Captiva?
Yes, there are two. Captiva is a small island, and its shopping is built around a few village corners rather than strip malls. That suits the place. It also means you should know where to find a bottle of wine before the sun goes down on your first evening.
The Island Store
The Island Store sits at the corner of Andy Rosse Lane and Captiva Drive, in the heart of the village. According to its Fort Myers tourism listing, it is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for island necessities and beer, wine and liquor. Think of it as the convenience stop: sunscreen, snacks, a bottle of white for dinner and a mixer for the evening.
It will not match a dedicated liquor store for rare bottles. For everyday needs, though, such as a few craft beers for the beach cooler or a bottle for a sunset toast, it saves you a drive.
South Seas Spirits
The north end of the island is home to South Seas Spirits, in The Shops at South Seas at 14830 Captiva Drive. A recent announcement describes it as a destination for high-end liquors, wines, beers and mixers, and it lists well-known whiskies, cognacs and champagnes alongside imported and craft beers. The same announcement gives its hours as 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
If you want a nice bottle of bourbon or Scotch for a long evening on a screened lanai, or premium mixers for cocktails at home, this is the closest thing to a specialty shop on Captiva itself. It is a convenient stop if you are staying near the resort end of the island.
A note on hours
Island businesses adjust their hours with the seasons, storms and staffing. Treat every hour in this article as a starting point and call ahead or check the store’s own page. That one habit saves more disappointment than any other tip here.
The best bet for selection: Sanibel’s liquor stores
Sanibel is the first island you cross on the way to Captiva, which makes it the natural place for a full restocking. If you are flying into Southwest Florida, our guide on how to get to Captiva Island walks through the route, and the liquor run fits easily into the drive along Periwinkle Way.
Two dedicated stores serve the island:
Jerry’s Wine & Spirits (formerly Sanibel Spirits) is at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Unit 6, and according to its own site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The phone number is 239-472-8668.
The Grog Shop has been on the island since 1972 and sits at 2435 Periwinkle Way, next to Bailey’s Shopping Center near the corner of Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road, per its website. You can reach the shop at 239-472-1682.
If you are comparing the two islands for your stay, our piece on Captiva versus Sanibel explains how they differ in feel and in what is within walking distance of your door.
How far is it, really?
Sanibel’s shops are on the main road you already drive to reach Captiva, so a stop adds minutes rather than a separate trip. Captiva Drive is a slow, scenic road with lots of bikes and pedestrians, so plan your errands before you settle in. Once you have parked at your rental, most guests prefer to leave the car where it is.
Where else you can buy alcohol in Florida
Florida sorts its alcohol sales in a way that surprises some visitors. According to the Fort Myers News-Press, grocery stores sell beer and wine but not liquor, and Walmart, Target, gas stations and CVS also sell beer and wine. So the answer to the common question, can you buy beer at CVS in Florida, is yes. Spirits are a different matter: they are sold at package stores and dedicated liquor stores.
That applies to Publix too. Its grocery stores carry beer and wine, while full-strength spirits come from its separate Publix Liquors shops. MarketWatch Magazine reports that the chain operates more than 350 free-standing liquor stores, mostly in Florida and often next to a sibling grocery store. If you are filling a cart at a mainland Publix on the way in, check whether there is a Publix Liquors beside it for your spirits.
Where to stock up before you cross the causeway
A grocery run on the mainland is usually the cheapest way to cover beer and wine along with food. Many families split the job: groceries and beer or wine in one stop, a bottle or two of spirits at a liquor store on Sanibel. That gives you the selection and keeps the island errands short.
Delivery
Grocery delivery from the mainland can reach the islands, and some Sanibel shops take orders by phone. Delivery areas, fees and hours change, so confirm before you count on it for a first-night bottle of wine.
What to know about Florida alcohol rules
The rules are simple, and good to know before you shop.
Age
Florida law makes it a crime to sell, give or serve alcohol to anyone under 21, as laid out in Florida Statute 562.11. Expect to show a photo ID, and bring one for every adult in your party, since stores may ask even if you look well over the line.
Hours
Under Florida Statute 562.14, alcohol may not be sold between midnight and 7 a.m. unless a county or municipal ordinance says otherwise. Individual stores keep their own, usually shorter, hours, as the Captiva and Sanibel listings above show.
Dedicated liquor stores
Florida requires package stores that hold the standard liquor license to devote their premises to alcohol sales, with exceptions such as mixers, bitters, home bar and party supplies, and tobacco products, according to Chapter 565 of the Florida Statutes. That is why a liquor store on Sanibel will be stocked with mixers and bar tools but not groceries.
Buying a drink at a restaurant instead
Sometimes the best answer is not a bottle at all. Captiva’s restaurants and bars pour wine, beer and cocktails, and a sunset table is part of the island routine. The Mucky Duck on Andy Rosse Lane, for example, reopened in March 2026 and serves premium, craft and imported beers, red and white wines, Champagne, prosecco and mixed drinks.
Florida also allows some restaurants to sell their own prepared drinks to go. Under Statute 565.045, the vendor must be licensed as a public food service establishment, the drinks must come with food in the same order, and food and nonalcoholic drinks must make up at least 40% of the total charge. Ask the restaurant what it offers rather than assuming. For ideas on where to spend an evening, see our guide to Captiva Island nightlife.
How to stock your vacation home
A good rental changes how you drink on vacation. With a full kitchen, a private pool or a screened lanai facing the water, the best cocktail hour is the one you host yourself. Here is how we suggest planning it.
Start with a rough count
For a week, most groups find that a few bottles of wine, a case of beer and one or two spirits cover the cocktail hours. Add mixers, citrus, ice and sparkling water. A simple plan for each evening, such as wine on the beach one night and cocktails by the pool the next, keeps you from overbuying.
Split the shopping
Buy groceries and beer or wine on the mainland, since Florida grocers carry both. Save the spirits for a dedicated store on Sanibel. Use The Island Store or South Seas Spirits on Captiva for top-ups, a forgotten mixer or a special bottle once you are settled.
Bring the right glassware thinking
Plan for the beach too. Glass bottles and breakable stemware are better left at the house, so pack drinks for the shore in cans or a thermos and take the wine glasses back to the lanai. Check the rules for the specific beach you visit, and see our Captiva beaches guide for how each stretch of sand differs.
Think about non-drinkers
Not everyone in your group drinks, and some travelers cannot for medical reasons. Stock sparkling water, citrus, ginger beer and the nonalcoholic mixers that liquor stores and grocers carry, so the evening toast works for everyone. A good mocktail on the lanai feels just as much like vacation.
Our perspective
We have spent more than 30 years helping guests settle into Captiva, and the first evening is the one that sets the tone. The guests who enjoy it most are not the ones who found the rarest bottle. They are the ones who arrived with a plan: groceries in the fridge, a bottle chilled, and nowhere they had to be. That is one reason we like to say the home matters as much as the island. A fully equipped kitchen, a screened lanai and a view of the bay or the Gulf turn a simple glass of wine into the evening’s main event. Sunrise over the bay has a different feel than a crowded bar, and the sunset from a beachfront deck does not ask anything of you except to sit still for a minute. Our advice is the same every season. Make one stop on Sanibel on the way in, keep The Island Store and South Seas Spirits in mind for top-ups, and then let the island slow you down. Our local team is happy to talk through the neighborhood around your home, from the nearest shops to the quiet spots for an evening walk. Josh
Find a Captiva home with room to unwind
The right house makes the cocktail hour. We manage a curated collection of more than 40 luxury homes on Captiva, from beachfront homes to bayfront homes and homes with private pools. Booking direct means 0% third-party platform fees, and you deal with a local team that knows the island.
Browse all our Captiva rentals to find the house that fits your group, then plan the rest of the trip around it.
FAQ
Can you buy liquor on Captiva Island?
Yes. The Island Store sells beer, wine and liquor, and South Seas Spirits at The Shops at South Seas carries spirits, wine, beer and mixers. For a larger selection, Sanibel’s dedicated liquor stores on Periwinkle Way are a short drive away.
Can you buy beer at CVS in Florida?
Yes. CVS stores in Florida sell beer and wine, as do Walmart, Target, gas stations and grocery stores, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. Spirits are sold only in package stores and dedicated liquor stores.
Does Publix sell liquor in Florida?
Publix grocery stores sell beer and wine but not full-strength spirits. The company runs separate Publix Liquors stores, often beside a grocery store, for those, per MarketWatch Magazine.
How old do you have to be to buy alcohol in Florida?
You must be 21. Selling or serving alcohol to anyone under that age is a crime under Florida law, so carry a photo ID when you shop.
What are the nearest full liquor stores to Captiva?
The closest dedicated stores are on Sanibel along Periwinkle Way, including Jerry’s Wine & Spirits and The Grog Shop. Call ahead to confirm current hours before you go.
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