I wish they would sell liquor in the grocery store!

[mfd25wife]

Liquor in a grocery store, LOL!!!! I live in the Bible Belt, I can't even get beer on Sunday, much less liquor.

Me, too!

Actually, I live in a "dry" county. There are some liquor licenses for sell by the glass, but it is only for "clubs". They have to charge a $5 membership fee and you have to be with an adult to even go in. In our county, Outback and Ruby Tuesday are clubs! It is strange to visitors. It's kind of funny cause there are liquor stores at all but one county line so you can actually be there in 20 minutes from any point in town.

It is based on the state laws. In TN, I had a friend who owned a store, but he could only sell wine and beer. Liquor required a separate license and separate building. I don't remember how it all worked, but I know he could sell some things but not others. Since he couldn't see liquor, is is still considered a liquor store? or is this what they call a package store? I know we can buy wine and beer at Publix in Memphis.

 

[CindyKansas]

I live in Kansas and you cannot buy hard liquor in the grocery stores. Like Plantlady said 3.2 beer and no Sunday sales. I will say that in my small community we have plenty of family owned liquor stores.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

We can get beer (but only along the lines of Bud and Coors and Michelob, not the really good stuff) and things like Mike's in the grocery stores here, but nothing else. And not on Sundays - the area is closed off and/or locked then.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I live in NJ we cannot get liquor in the actual grocery store, CVS, Walmart-

Aside from the liquor stores, a few grocery stores have a separate small store inside that sells it. But it is not on the actual store shelves........

yep.. only shoprite around me has the separate store within the store.

 

[Kathi OD]

Im in PA

We can not get anything with Alcohol in it at the grocery store, convience store, walmart.

We go to the state store for the hard stuff

beer distributors for beer

6 paks at some bars and resturants.

actually the law changed a few years back, before we moved across the Delaware, and there are some grocery stores in PA that can now sell beer, but they're few and far between.

 

[Kathi OD]

yep.. only shoprite around me has the separate store within the store.

There's a grocery store in Beach Haven, on LBI, that has that same setup. It is kinda weird to go in there. The selection isn't all that great, but it's still convenient.

 

[PaulaSue]

I heard they are going to start in PA.

 

[Barb D]

Nothing in MD except at liquor stores. But DH and I don't drink, so it doesn't matter to us anyway.

 

[figment52]

I'll help with that drink - lol

enjoy

 

[Mr. Pig]

In WI rules vary by community. Sometimes the grocery store has to have a separate entrance for it's liquor area so that it can be closed off at the cut off time for liquor and there are limited number of licenses. The liquor stores have a good lobby.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

In texas there is beer and wine available in grocery stores. Anything stronger is sold at liquor stores.

QUOTE]

is that statewide now or just in your area? When my parents lived in Texas 20 years ago it was up to each county or town. In my parent's town you could buy beer/wine in the grocery store but no booze anywhere - the next town over was completely dry. You had to go 2-3 towns away to buy liquor. There were no freestanding bars in their town and you had to buy a "membership" to buy drinks at any of the restaurants. The membership was good for a year and was maybe $10-20 at each place.

Iowa used to have state liquor stores that were closed on Sunday but got rid of them about 25 years ago. Beer and wine have always been in the grocery stores, and most of them also sell liquor now. Beer/wine/anything up to 20% alcohol is a separate license from stronger liquor but the profit margin is such that most places have both. You can buy alcohol on Sundays but the start time in the morning is later than the rest of the week. No sales after 2AM either.

 

[Imzadi]

It is very much a regional or state thing. In CA, they sell liquor preetty much everywhere. In NY & NJ no.

 

[Kycha]

actually the law changed a few years back, before we moved across the Delaware, and there are some grocery stores in PA that can now sell beer, but they're few and far between.

That may change again. The beer distributors are fighting the ruling that allows supermarkets to sell beer.

 

[JennaTX]

In texas there is beer and wine available in grocery stores. Anything stronger is sold at liquor stores.

QUOTE]

is that statewide now or just in your area? When my parents lived in Texas 20 years ago it was up to each county or town. In my parent's town you could buy beer/wine in the grocery store but no booze anywhere - the next town over was completely dry. You had to go 2-3 towns away to buy liquor. There were no freestanding bars in their town and you had to buy a "membership" to buy drinks at any of the restaurants. The membership was good for a year and was maybe $10-20 at each place.

Iowa used to have state liquor stores that were closed on Sunday but got rid of them about 25 years ago. Beer and wine have always been in the grocery stores, and most of them also sell liquor now. Beer/wine/anything up to 20% alcohol is a separate license from stronger liquor but the profit margin is such that most places have both. You can buy alcohol on Sundays but the start time in the morning is later than the rest of the week. No sales after 2AM either.

In Texas hard liquor is only sold in liquor stores. Beer/Wine and are available in most grocery stores, convience stores, etc. But you are right, there are still "dry" areas in Texas where nothing is sold.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Thank God I live in California.

 

[BigGoofy44]

I've lived in Oklahoma where only 3.2 can be sold in convenience stores/gas stations and grocery stores; a dry county in Arkansas where nothing could be sold ; Missouri, where everything can be sold ; and now I'm in Colorado.

You'd think in Denver, where there are more bars in more places (a statistical fact) it would be easy to get liqour. However, it has one of the weirdest laws I've found anywhere: A supermarket chain can carry full liquor in up to two of their stores statewide based on an old law that allows apothecaries or drug stores to carry alcohol. Otherwise it can only be carried in liquor stores and until recently those were not open on Sunday.

 

[maelstrom]

I live in New York. Liquor comes from a liquor store, beer and wine coolers come from the supermarket. Lots of bars, no membership, and they're open until four in the morning.

 

[BigGoofy44]

I would love to be able to go into a bar and get alcohol up to 4 in the morning. Our bars are only open until 2, and it seems like last call is about 1:30.

 

[MoniqueU]

I can't imagine laws like that I don't have the time to be hunting all over town to get some alcohol for my cocktails. I would have every legislature member on my dpeed dial and be calling in on a daily basis. Why do people sit back and accept that. I also don't get the whole gambling is ok in one state but not in another. I don't need the government to protect me from myself I am a big girl. I just got back from the casino and had 2 margarittas. Life is good and It was my birthday so my mom gave me money and I won enough to pay for my sons dj for his birthday party tomorrow. I have complete control over my life and those that don't will find whatever way they can to self destruct without the government intervening.

 

[Vexorg]

I don't drink, but up here in Washington the state government maintains a monopoly on hard liquor, so it can only be purchased in state-run liquor stores. Beer and wine can be sold in grocery stores. Because of this, when I went to Yellowstone a couple of years ago it seemed a bit odd to me to go into just about any gift shop in the park and see a shelf full of hard liquor.