Buying beer at Walmart

[ditchdj]

Just thought I'd let you know that at your local Walmart if you wanna buy beer you gotta watch out for the "Purple Sign", laminated with small black letters that specifically states that the cashier can't ring it up for you.

And they tape it at the base of the conveyor belt so many people don't notice it and then talk to you like you're stupid when you go to buy beer there. What's even stupider is that half the cashiers at my local Walmart can't sell you beer.

I think that's stupid. They used to just get another cashier to ring it up for you. Now you just can't buy beer in those aisles anymore.

[bainsidhe]

Interesting. At our local Wal-Mart, you can tell the minors by a bright yellow sticker on their name badge. And you're correct, a CSM will come over and put through the sale. Doesn't stop it from taking longer and being a bit inconvenient, but they'll get there as quickly as they can.

Something interesting to note, this rule may vary by region. I've seen a sign put up in non-Wal-Mart grocery stores stating the cashier was underrage, but I'd never seen them in Wal-Mart. I asked one of the CSMs and she laughed, saying there was no way corporate would allow them to do that. Customers don't like being told they can't do something, you see.

Again, this may be a purely regional thing, or a choice your specific store made. Don't expect all Wal-Marts to be this way. I suggest filing a complaint online if you don't like the policy. Either the store will get in trouble for breaking corporate policy, or corporate will consider changing things back.

[PepperElf]

personally i think it's kinda silly. sure the laws say you have to be 21+ (in most states) to buy / consume alcohol... but i think it's kinda silly to extend the rule to selling or even touching the cases. as long as they're not selling to themselves or other underage people... what's the issue? not like they're going to be drinking at work...

but i know someone somewhere in the store will think that it'll tempt them into drinking or etc. :sigh:

[rerant]

This is why I'm (usually) glad that here we have The Beer Store and the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario aka the liquor store). No worries about whether or not the person working there can sell you your alcohol.

I say usually because I can't count the number of times I've rushed to the beer store before it closed, the whole way thinking, "You know, I wouldn't have this problem if we could just buy our alcohol at the damn 7-11."

[BookstoreEscapee]

I'm kinda glad you can't buy alcohol in regular grocery stores or Walmart/Target etc. in NJ. Probably saves me from witnessing a lot of suck. Actually, the first time I saw someone on here (or was it PFB) mention buying alcohol in Target, my reaction was "Target sells beer?"

Here you have to buy it in a liquor store. Some of them are attached to grocery stores but most are free-standing. The Wegmans near me has its own liquor store attached, but its register system is separate from the grocery part and you can't even purchase grocery items in the liquor store part, or vice versa.

[K245five]

Living in PA like I currently do, you cannot buy beer in ANY retail establishment ANYWHERE! State law.

Thank the PA Liquor Control Board for that.

[ArcticChicken]

I enjoy watching people try to figure out where the beer is here in PA. I've gotten very good at projecting Genuine Puzzlement when people demand to know where the beer is located. Does that make me evil?

[prb]

IMO, I like the Ontario system
LCBO = Any alcohol
Beer Store = Beer, duh

I also like that they don't really care about age. I don't drink, and am underage, but when my mom buys stuff for herself, I find it in the store, get it, she pays and I carry it out for her

[Velfarre2001]

IMO, I like the Ontario system
LCBO = Any alcohol
Beer Store = Beer, duh

I also like that they don't really care about age. I don't drink, and am underage, but when my mom buys stuff for herself, I find it in the store, get it, she pays and I carry it out for her

All the LCBO's and Beer Stores I have ever been in card everyone buying the booze who looks underage even if they are just accompanying the buyer.....

[KiaKat]

Actually, thanks to a bunch of lawsuits back in the 90's, as long as the waitress, bartender, or salesperson is over 18, they are allowed to sell, handle, and mix alcohol. Just can't consume or purchase it themselves.

Reason is that it violates age discrimination laws. The only time you can restrict employment is when the person is under 18, and that's due to child labour laws.

[Fenrus]

That's one thing I like and hate about the Utah Liquor control board. We have designated liquor stores, and can only buy watered down beer at grocery stores.

The only problem with it is that the Liquor Stores are open about 4 hours a day it seems...

[smileyeagle1021]

That's one thing I like and hate about the Utah Liquor control board. We have designated liquor stores, and can only buy watered down beer at grocery stores.

The only problem with it is that the Liquor Stores are open about 4 hours a day it seems...

that's just because you work grave and are sleeping during most of the time they're open

and seriously, why not do the same thing I do... stock up any time I go over to Nevada (hmm, I think a Wendover trip is in order... anyone for a Salt Lake CSer Wendover trip )

[otakuneko]

Grocery stores here have sold beer long as I've been... aware of it.
I remember it was a big deal when the issue of wine sales at grocery stores was finally put to a vote. That little measure passed, overwhelmingly.

Never encountered the little purple sign at Wally World. Then again, I don't think I've ever bought beer there. I also try to avoid that place like the plague that it is.

[rerant]

All the LCBO's and Beer Stores I have ever been in card everyone buying the booze who looks underage even if they are just accompanying the buyer.....

I've never had that happen to me (when I was underage and would go in with friends or family) and have never seen it happen to anyone else.
Like prb, when I was underage I would often carry bottles out for whoever I was with and it was never an issue to employees or the security guards.

[Chromatix]

Finnish system:

Ordinary shops can sell alcohol up to and including approximately cider strength. There are of course age and time restrictions - I think age 18, but don't quote me on that one. Doubtless the shop itself has to hold a licence.

Stronger alcohol (wine, vodka, etc.) is sold only in bars (for immediate consumption) and Alko stores (state monopoly). The Alkos are generally well-stocked and pleasant, since they have to compete with the easy and cheap access to personal foreign imports, such as from Estonia.

Finland does have some trouble with the incidence of alcoholism. The government is combating this partly through price controls (vice taxes and prohibition of loss-leader discounts), and partly by other means. Fortunately the chronic drunks are almost never violent towards strangers.