Hard stuff in a bar

Archive answer — August 20, 2026

40 Across

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“ALCOHOLICDRINKS” is the published 15-letter fill for 40 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

LA Times Crossword

This clue’s Thursday, August 20, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

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Across

31 clues
  1. 1Error
  2. 8Radio static sound
  3. 15Do the same as
  4. 16Peaceful getaway spot
  5. 17Hard stuff in rings
  6. 19"You said it!"
  7. 20Ignited
  8. 21Small floral bundle
  9. 22Robin Hood foe
  10. 26Hard stuff in school
  11. 32Gets even with
  12. 33Relativity, for one
  13. 35Bucks and does
  14. 36Org. that oversees food recalls
  15. 39Half a sextet
  16. 40Hard stuff in a barALCOHOLICDRINKS
  17. 45Utterly exhausted
  18. 46"How amusing"
  19. 49__ culpa
  20. 50Marina __ Rey, California
  21. 51Proper
  22. 54Fuming
  23. 56Nocturnal flapper
  24. 58Word with circle and tube
  25. 60Hard stuff for a sweet tooth
  26. 63Doesn't just assume
  27. 64Licoricelike herb
  28. 65Ore-rich vein
  29. 66Appliance alert
  30. 67Numbers for letters
  31. 68Tollbooth pricing unit

Down

45 clues
  1. 1Sports analyst Kimes
  2. 2Mosque leader
  3. 3Place
  4. 4Leave speechless
  5. 5Fossil-preserving gunk
  6. 6Unreliable stat from the fashionably late
  7. 7Bit of hamster food
  8. 8One who always gives star treatment?
  9. 9Belfast-born actor Stephen
  10. 10Bread machine
  11. 11Trim, as a photo
  12. 12Casino game
  13. 13Boyos
  14. 14Marketplace with personalized gifts
  15. 18NNE, SSW, etc.
  16. 22Contrail location
  17. 23Bucks, but not does
  18. 24In shape
  19. 25Dismissive syllable
  20. 26Bit of fishing gear
  21. 27Well-financed gp.?
  22. 28Chocolate substitute
  23. 29Online access username within universities, briefly
  24. 30Grain ground to make masa
  25. 31"The Devil in the White City" writer Larson
  26. 32Nutritional amt.
  27. 34Casual hellos
  28. 36Flowering plant once believed to repel pests
  29. 37E, in Morse code
  30. 38Rigorous evaluation
  31. 41Big hit at the ballpark
  32. 42Unspecified person
  33. 43Hip-hop pioneer Dr. __
  34. 44Thing of the past
  35. 46Muslim headscarf
  36. 47Create a clean slate?
  37. 48Ethan of the "Before" trilogy
  38. 51Secondary structure
  39. 52"Bike faster!"
  40. 53Defiant response to a threat
  41. 55Ingredient meas.
  42. 57Similar (to)
  43. 59Mars rover org.
  44. 61"My conscience whispers in your __": "King John"
  45. 62High or low follower, in graphics

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Error

    Answer: MISSTEP

  2. 8. Radio static sound

    Answer: CRACKLE

  3. 15. Do the same as

    Answer: IMITATE

  4. 16. Peaceful getaway spot

    Answer: RETREAT

  5. 17. Hard stuff in rings

    Answer: NATURALDIAMONDS

  6. 19. "You said it!"

    Answer: AMEN

  7. 20. Ignited

    Answer: LIT

  8. 21. Small floral bundle

    Answer: POSY

  9. 22. Robin Hood foe

    Answer: SHERIFF

  10. 26. Hard stuff in school

    Answer: ROCKETSCIENCE

  11. 32. Gets even with

    Answer: REPAYS

  12. 33. Relativity, for one

    Answer: THEORY

  13. 35. Bucks and does

    Answer: DEER

  14. 36. Org. that oversees food recalls

    Answer: FDA

  15. 39. Half a sextet

    Answer: TRIO

  16. 40. Hard stuff in a bar

    Answer: ALCOHOLICDRINKS

  17. 45. Utterly exhausted

    Answer: BONETIRED

  18. 46. "How amusing"

    Answer: HEH

  19. 49. __ culpa

    Answer: MEA

  20. 50. Marina __ Rey, California

    Answer: DEL

  21. 51. Proper

    Answer: APT

  22. 54. Fuming

    Answer: IRATE

  23. 56. Nocturnal flapper

    Answer: BAT

  24. 58. Word with circle and tube

    Answer: INNER

  25. 60. Hard stuff for a sweet tooth

    Answer: JAWBREAKERCANDY

  26. 63. Doesn't just assume

    Answer: ASKS

  27. 64. Licoricelike herb

    Answer: ANISE

  28. 65. Ore-rich vein

    Answer: SEAM

  29. 66. Appliance alert

    Answer: BEEP

  30. 67. Numbers for letters

    Answer: RENTS

  31. 68. Tollbooth pricing unit

    Answer: AXLE

Down

  1. 1. Sports analyst Kimes

    Answer: MINA

  2. 2. Mosque leader

    Answer: IMAM

  3. 3. Place

    Answer: SITE

  4. 4. Leave speechless

    Answer: STUN

  5. 5. Fossil-preserving gunk

    Answer: TAR

  6. 6. Unreliable stat from the fashionably late

    Answer: ETA

  7. 7. Bit of hamster food

    Answer: PELLET

  8. 8. One who always gives star treatment?

    Answer: CRITIC

  9. 9. Belfast-born actor Stephen

    Answer: REA

  10. 10. Bread machine

    Answer: ATM

  11. 11. Trim, as a photo

    Answer: CROP

  12. 12. Casino game

    Answer: KENO

  13. 13. Boyos

    Answer: LADS

  14. 14. Marketplace with personalized gifts

    Answer: ETSY

  15. 18. NNE, SSW, etc.

    Answer: DIRS

  16. 22. Contrail location

    Answer: SKY

  17. 23. Bucks, but not does

    Answer: HES

  18. 24. In shape

    Answer: FIT

  19. 25. Dismissive syllable

    Answer: FEH

  20. 26. Bit of fishing gear

    Answer: REEL

  21. 27. Well-financed gp.?

    Answer: OPEC

  22. 28. Chocolate substitute

    Answer: CAROB

  23. 29. Online access username within universities, briefly

    Answer: NETID

  24. 30. Grain ground to make masa

    Answer: CORN

  25. 31. "The Devil in the White City" writer Larson

    Answer: ERIK

  26. 32. Nutritional amt.

    Answer: RDA

  27. 34. Casual hellos

    Answer: YOS

  28. 36. Flowering plant once believed to repel pests

    Answer: FLEABANE

  29. 37. E, in Morse code

    Answer: DIT

  30. 38. Rigorous evaluation

    Answer: ACIDTEST

  31. 41. Big hit at the ballpark

    Answer: HOMER

  32. 42. Unspecified person

    Answer: ONE

  33. 43. Hip-hop pioneer Dr. __

    Answer: DRE

  34. 44. Thing of the past

    Answer: RELIC

  35. 46. Muslim headscarf

    Answer: HIJAB

  36. 47. Create a clean slate?

    Answer: ERASE

  37. 48. Ethan of the "Before" trilogy

    Answer: HAWKE

  38. 51. Secondary structure

    Answer: ANNEX

  39. 52. "Bike faster!"

    Answer: PEDAL

  40. 53. Defiant response to a threat

    Answer: TRYME

  41. 55. Ingredient meas.

    Answer: TBSP

  42. 57. Similar (to)

    Answer: AKIN

  43. 59. Mars rover org.

    Answer: NASA

  44. 61. "My conscience whispers in your __": "King John"

    Answer: EAR

  45. 62. High or low follower, in graphics

    Answer: RES

The answer to “Hard stuff in a bar” in the LA Times Crossword is ALCOHOLICDRINKS — a 15-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 20, 2026 at 40-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Hard stuff in a bar” answer

ALCOHOLICDRINKS(15 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does ALCOHOLICDRINKS fit?

ALCOHOLICDRINKS is the published 15-letter answer at 40-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Hard stuff in a bar” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Hard stuff in a bar”?

The answer is ALCOHOLICDRINKS.

How many letters are in the answer?

15 letters: ALCOHOLICDRINKS.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the LA Times Crossword for August 20, 2026 at 40-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the LA Times answers page for August 20, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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