How do you work, America? (fact help, please?)

[sakesushimaki]

So, once again my European mind has encountered (and almost missed!) a point of ignorance. Help me out, please?

How does this booze-buying work again? You can get beer and softer booze at any supermarket but any harder stuff like vodka and whiskey is bought at a special liquor store, right

Comments

[toto_too514]

It's different in each state... maybe this might help:

Unlike many states which sell alcohol in grocery stores, Pennsylvania wine and hard spirits have been sold only in state stores (aka Wine and Spirit Shops, sometimes Shoppes) run by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Beer is sold only in beer distributor outlets and bars.

http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/guidewine082411.aspx

Champagne and JB would be considered hard spirits.

[sakesushimaki]

Phew. Obfuscation much, law-makers? :D

Thanks so much for the help! <3

[brianswalk]

What Toto said. I lived in PA for 30 years, and beer, wine, and liquor are NEVER sold at a gas station or supermarket. It's all extremely regulated, for now. There is a move to change things.
Wine and liquor at the State Store, and beer at a beer distributor. Beer can also be purchased at a bar, but as I recall, no more than a 12-pack.

[sakesushimaki]

Seriously, all I know of PA is a) Pittsburgh = city of steel = not Toronto, b) Amish country and c) Rick Santorum. And strangely enough, this all seems to fit together now that you guys have told me about their superparanoid alcohol laws.

Does anybody ever have a good time there? :D

[koraline86]

I was trying to post a link, but LJ marked it as spam. Anyway, Jim Beam and Champagne at the grocery store? Very unlikely to happen...Pennsylvania is pretty strict towards alcohol.

Just type 'Alcohol laws of Pennsylania' on Google and you'll see what I'm talking about. Hope that helps :)

[sakesushimaki]

OMG this is so mind-boggling! What... oh my god! There's even laws on when you can buy alcohol? I... lol! *flails*

Thank you so much for the both confusing but also eye-opening link! :D

[rhiannonhero]

I loved this post and your reactions to the answers. :)

[sakesushimaki]

Ha ha, okay then! ...I'm probably coming off like the slapsticky exchange student. :D

[love4movies]

In Illinois in the 90s it wasn't even allowed to transport alcohol in your car, it had to be stored in the trunk. Yep, that applied for closed beer cans too. And of course you couldn't drink on the street. And they carded pretty much everyone with a pulse.
Quite different...

[sakesushimaki]

Wowy. Speaking of the booze's invisibility, I always found it funny how, in movies, people drink from paper bag-wrapped bottles. I mean, a) everyone knows that it's alcohol or b) the ones that don't and should not be exposed to the bottle labels i.e. kids will just think that you're drinking out of a (garbage) bag. Is that really a better message to the kids? :D

Oh, US of A, you are such a intriguing paradox. <3

[moonbrightnites]

For a minute there I thought you were going to say that you had to rent a little U-Haul trailer to transport it in!

I can't get over how many issues people here have with alcohol. Back when my MiL was teaching she used to drive three towns over (an hour away) to use a liquor store where she felt certain none of her students' parents would see her shopping in.

[love4movies]

Lol, that's just my bad English. :D

IMHO these strong regulations about alcohol don't help the situation. The kids only love what's forbidden. It is my responsibility as a parent to guide my kids and teach responsible handling of alcohol, ziggies, drugs and sex. It's difficult, but it's my job, nobody elses.

[moonbrightnites]

Most places in the US are incredibly uptight about alcohol.

I miss living in California, where you could buy the hard stuff in a regular grocery store. Here, I have to go to a completely separate store to buy the bourbon for the bourbon chicken.

[amelialourdes]

Haha, I was just going to say. California's pretty lax about alcohol and you can get hard liquor from a Ralph's here in soCal which is just a regular grocery store. I'm kind of surprised to hear about these other alcohol laws because I had no idea.

[sakesushimaki]

So it's true than what they say about California! B)