Grocery Store Yarns: Of Course I'll Get Fired And Sell Beer To You

[figgyx]

No alcohol for you.

I have worked night audit at various hotels and have had to tell numerous people on numerous occasions that after 2am we simply cannot serve alcohol. Every last jerk/loser/drunk would argue that it is only a few minutes past two - etc.

The kicker was when an entire convention of Michigan State Troopers asked for alcohol. Yeah right - like I am gonna illegally serve a whole mess of cops.

[Gilhelmi]

I am mostly opposed to "blue laws" mainly because a person should be responsible for their own actions and not have the state do it for them.

However, I agree with the "no sales between 'x' at night and 'y' in the morning" because that law at least cuts down on bar flys coming in to buy more alcohol and being more publicly intoxicated.

Also, as a fun side note.
Jack Daniel's Whiskey can not be sold in the Moore county Tennessee, where it is made. So if you take a tour of the plant, do not expect to find any in their gift shop.

[downforit2008]

A while back, I had a guy go ballistic on me because he couldn't buy beer. He tried to tell me that he should be able to buy alcohol whenever he wants because HE'S A VETERAN! He died for this country!!

Being a veteran doesn't mean that you're ABOVE the law. It's SUPPOSED to mean that you should have a bigger meaning and sense of respect for the laws to be followed in this country, considering that you served that country in a capacity to defend it if necessary from invaders willing to infiltrate it and change the laws to something suited to their own tastes.

I should know. I'm an army vet myself!

[Jester]

Blue laws are fun!

In KW, for decades there was a blue law on the books that prohibited liquor sales before noon on Sunday, at retail locations or in bars or restaurants. It was a city law, so many people who enjoyed an early start to their Sunday Funday would simply go to the next Key up, Stock Island, and enjoy their libations at the establishments there, which did a booming business. I never thought I'd see the day when that law went away.

Fortunately, I was wrong...they repealed it a couple summers ago, and now Sundays are just like any other day: you can start getting your drink on as early as 7 am, 7 days a week. Also, places of all sorts can sell alcohol as late as 4 am. Not every place is open that late, but if they are, that is the cutoff time. So really, there's only a 3 hours window where you can't buy booze. Not too shabby!

I'm also amused by a lot of the laws in other states, especially the ones where the state only allows alcohol from state stores. (Yet another reason I won't live in such places!) I'm especially amused when they have different laws for beer and wine vs. liquor, both with location and allowed times of sale. Here in Florida, grocery stores can sell beer and wine, just not liquor. But many grocery stores have their own liquor stores right next to the grocery store. We have, for example, a Publix, a Winn-Dixie, and a Walgreen's liquor store. The time restrictions apply across the board to all alcohol, with no distinction among them.

My home state of Arizona makes it even easier, as they allow their grocery stores to sell the hard stuff, too. One stop shopping! And their time restrictions also apply across the board to all alcohol: purchases are allowed from 7 am to 2 am, except Sundays, when it's 10 am till 2 am. Just in time for the kickoffs for the early football games. Well, during the early part of the season. When the rest of the country changes their clocks, kickoffs move to 11 am. Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Savings Time. We have enough sun!

Why can't they just do it earlier? I remember one college guy who specifically bought it about 10 or so, because he knew he'd be in the store awhile.

They can do it earlier. But unlike the guy you referenced, they don't plan ahead. Big difference between "can" and "do."

The law where I am is no sales on Sundays and Christmas Day. Not sure when the actual cutoff time is since I don't work those hours. Most of the time people are okay when I tell them we can't sell it. It's like "Oh yeah, it's Sunday isn't it?" Once in a while we get someone from out of state and they get all "Well, that's stupid!"

Whether or not a law is stupid--and I'm of the opinion that many of them are--that does not mean the cashier or bartender can simply ignore them. While I may not agree with all the liquor laws I work under, I still have to work under those laws. If someone has a problem with the law itself, they need to address that problem to the people who have some amount of control over said law, be it on the city, county, or state level.

When people argue with me about the ID laws here in Florida, I simply tell them that if they don't like it, they're gonna have to talk to the folks in Tallahassee, since there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

Side note that I found amusing in Las Vegas, leaving a casino or bar, I don't remember which, I get to the door, security is standing there, out of habit I chug my drink and set it on the shelf next to door before going to walk out, the security guard laughed and said 'you must be from Canada'. It seems we are the only country that doesn't let you take your drink out of the bar once you've paid for it?

Actually, in most places in the USA, you can't do it, either. Vegas is among a select few places in the whole country that allow "to go" drinks. Key West is another one. Yay me! Now, I can't speak to the specifics of the law in Vegas or any of the other places, but here in KW, the actual law is that it is illegal to have any open container of alcohol on the streets or sidewalks, even in plastic cups. However, plastic cups are tolerated in the downtown area, as long as you're not doing anything else stupid. For example, if you're starting a fight, peeing in a bush, or some other douchey illegal shit, the cops will charge you for the crime itself, and add on the open container citation as well. But if you're just walking around with drinks in plastic cups, it's not worth their effort to cite you. It's called selective enforcement, and it works. However, as they had some incidents with bottles a while back, they WILL cite you for walking around with an open bottle. As I often say, if it's glass, it's your ass.

Wow. I knew some places in Alaska had dry areas, but in the lower 48?

There are plenty of dry counties in the lower 48, mostly in the Bible Belt. I won't live in any of them, ever.

I've heard that PA authorities like to "stake out" liquor stores immediately across the state line, and if a car with PA plates pulls out of the parking lot and heads back home, "Yer in a heap of trouble, boy!".

Wait, it's illegal to transport legally purchased alcohol into Pennsylvania? That's idiotic. How do they justify that bullshit?

Myself, if I were living in PA (never happening, too damn cold!), and I knew the cops were doing this crap, I would simply drive a little further into the other state to make my purchases, so that they'd have no way to know. Not like they can legally drive into that other state to watch people.

Lynchburg, Tennessee- home of the Jack Daniels Distillery is in a dry county. They can make it and you can tour the distillery... but you can't buy it near there.

Also, as a fun side note.
Jack Daniel's Whiskey can not be sold in the Moore county Tennessee, where it is made. So if you take a tour of the plant, do not expect to find any in their gift shop.

You are both slightly incorrect.
Here's the actual deal, as I found out when I did the tour of the Jack Daniels Distillery back in '98:
The county is a dry county for liquor only, but they do allow beer and wine to be sold and purchased.
There is one notable exception to this. Years ago, the Distillery got a special dispensation from the county, so in their gift shop only, you can purchase their product.

[Trixie]

Whether or not a law is stupid--and I'm of the opinion that many of them are--that does not mean the cashier or bartender can simply ignore them. While I may not agree with all the liquor laws I work under, I still have to work under those laws. If someone has a problem with the law itself, they need to address that problem to the people who have some amount of control over said law, be it on the city, county, or state level.

Agreed. I don't care what the law is but my job depends on my following it and avoiding the whole messy legal side. It's the same when people complain to me about any company policy. I have no power or control over anything. They can tell me to pass something along but that goes nowhere.

[Jay 2K Winger]

In Virginia, you can only buy hard liquor (by which I mean anything that isn't beer or wine) at state stores-- the ABC stores. However, they're closed on Sundays.

Which made for a bad night for one poor dumb idiot at the wholesale club. IIRC, it was even New Year's Eve.

Guy came into the store, asked where our alcohol was. I was FDLP that night, so I directed him to the appropriate part of the store. He came back a few minutes later, asked if we sold any hard liquor. I told him, "No, you'll have to find an ABC store for that. I think the nearest one's further down the shopping center."

He grimaced. "They're closed, man, I need to get my liquor for my New Year's Eve party!"

I shrugged and suggested, "Maybe try going into DC?" He wasn't happy that I couldn't produce his precious booze out of my rectum (but really, would you want to drink it?) and stomped off into the night.

Failure to plan on your part, etc.

[Jester]

He wasn't happy that I couldn't produce his precious booze out of my rectum (but really, would you want to drink it?)...

I think I've tasted it. It's called "gin."

See also: Captain Morgan's Tattoo, Dynamite Cabernet, Fat Tire, Heineken, and Zwack.

[drjonah]

Being a veteran doesn't mean that you're ABOVE the law. It's SUPPOSED to mean that you should have a bigger meaning and sense of respect for the laws to be followed in this country, considering that you served that country in a capacity to defend it if necessary from invaders willing to infiltrate it and change the laws to something suited to their own tastes.

I should know. I'm an army vet myself!

But this guy didn't just serve his country, HE DIED FOR IT!

But kudos to you for serving our country!

[Deserted]

My home state of Arizona makes it even easier, as they allow their grocery stores to sell the hard stuff, too. One stop shopping! And their time restrictions also apply across the board to all alcohol: purchases are allowed from 7 am to 2 am, except Sundays, when it's 10 am till 2 am. Just in time for the kickoffs for the early football games. Well, during the early part of the season. When the rest of the country changes their clocks, kickoffs move to 11 am. Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Savings Time. We have enough sun!

I always find it amusing that we have drive-thru liquor stores. I know of one a few doors down from a gun store. It would be hilarious if the gun store had a drive-thru as well.

Wait, it's illegal to transport legally purchased alcohol into Pennsylvania? That's idiotic. How do they justify that bullshit?

Probably because alcohol is taxable, and if it's bought outside the state, Big Brother doesn't get his cut.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

In Virginia, you can only buy hard liquor (by which I mean anything that isn't beer or wine) at state stores-- the ABC stores. However, they're closed on Sundays.

Our laws here in NC are similar - and no sales on Sunday for beer and wine before 12 noon.

So if your watch says it's one minute past 12 and our register says it's one minute before, guess which time we're going by? If you guessed the register computer, you are correct: the purchase will be kicked out b/c it's not time yet and a message will appear on the display saying so.

But other than that, with the exception of a few still dry localities (Denton, NC for example is dry. I checked both a Blowes Foods and a Litter Box last year on the way to Badin Lake and neither store had a beer/wine section. A manager I spoke with at the 2nd of the two stores I checked confirmed it: they're dry as a bone. So note to self: get my bottle of Yellow Tail before I leave Greensboro.)

As far as operating hours go, most of them here in Greensboro are open 10-9 Mon-Fri, and 9-9 on Saturday (closed Sundays.)

And if someone wants to complain about no liquor in grocery stores (and I've not had that happen yet even after 24 years) they can take it up with the state.

[earl colby pottinger]

Maybe

Wait, it's illegal to transport legally purchased alcohol into Pennsylvania? That's idiotic. How do they justify that bullshit?

Myself, if I were living in PA (never happening, too damn cold!), and I knew the cops were doing this crap, I would simply drive a little further into the other state to make my purchases, so that they'd have no way to know. Not like they can legally drive into that other state to watch people.

Maybe it is like here in Ontario. While I don't drink at-all I know better than to drive with an open alcoholic drink in the car with me. If I get pulled over for any reason I better be prepared to do a lot of talking to the cops and a breath test. If I have to take any alcoholic drink to the cabin for my friends I carry it in the trunk.

I will bet the problem is not what or where these people buy their booze, rather it is they can't wait to get home first and start drinking on the way back. Even if they were not drinking having the booze in the front of the car may be a legal problem.

PS. one of my brothers was hit by a drunk driver so it a personal sore point with me.

[Jester]

There's a big difference between being stopped for an open container and being stopped for simply having any sealed liquor in a vehicle, which is what it sounded like with the cops staking out the state line liquor store.

[MadMike]

I will bet the problem is not what or where these people buy their booze, rather it is they can't wait to get home first and start drinking on the way back.

Nope. Since the state is in the booze business, you can only legally buy it from them. If you go to another state and they catch you bringing it back into PA, they'll confiscate your alcohol and fine you.

[Jester]

That's fucked up. And yet another reason not to live in PA.

[Dreamstalker]

As far as I'm aware, our liquor-related blue laws are no sales on Sunday. My town also has a few strange ordinances, so I'm not sure if said blue laws are in town only or extend further.

My store doesn't sell beer or wine, which likely has to do with town (too many liquor stores in walking distance already) and state laws. Two or three locations do, but not us; for one, we just don't have the room. I have no qualms about pointing people to Trader Joe's (our 'competition'); what the customer wants is something we don't and will never carry anyway...