How is your beverage alcohol buying experience?

[mrviognier]

But, if THAT were true, then states would gravitate towards controlling everything. Each state determined their own system long ago...and each system is mighty hard to break down.

[cowdery]

Like I said, inertia. They choose systems 77 years ago, more or less at random, and can't imagine changing them in any way.

[ILLfarmboy]

At random?

I had always figured the greater the stranglehold the drys had on a region or state at the time of repeal, the less laize faire its "system" ended up being immediately following repeal.

[Trace Tippler]

Another Californian story with not all that much new to add. It's easy here buying liquor. You can buy seven days a week, most grocery stores sell it, we've got a big box chain, BevMo, that has a pretty darn good selection of all kinds of liquor, and if you want a 1.75L of something popular, Costco is often a good place to find it. Also there are many one-store places that have been around for many years and can order just about anything you want.

What may make it interesting is this fall's ballot initiative to legalize marijuana. There are a lot of state budget offices and think tanks trying to calculate exactly what effects this will have if it passes, and some of these calculations predict an overall decrease in sales of alcohol. Since the total revenues from sales of marijuana + alcohol would likely increase substantially, no one really knows what legalization might do in terms of liquor sales, prices and the like. And goodness knows what the federal response might be to it all.

Should be an interesting fall around here.

Cordially,

Trace T.

[mrviognier]

and if you want a 1.75L of something popular, Costco is often a good place to find it.

[Trace Tippler]

I think Costco is going back to the 'old days', winnowing down their spirits selection to just the top 2 or so big brands in each category. So, while prices will be fair, selection will be limited.

[ILLfarmboy]

And goodness knows what the federal response might be to it all.

It would depend.....on whether or not Holder et al are sympathetic to NORML and its goals. If not, I can see California getting slapped with a lawsuit ala Arizona. But then, there are other political considerations, ones that I would think mitigate against the possibility of such a lawsuit. You don't want to hork off your base, too much.

In any case, I hope the ballot initiative passes.

[ratcheer]

Don't feel too bad. Costco doesn't even sell liquor, here. Beer and wine, yes, but spirits, no.

Tim

[mrviognier]

Costco was making a lot of profit on the old system, and figured 'bigger selection = more profit'. They found that really didn't work with the spirits' expansion, hence the move back to the old system.

Can't feel too bad for you, Ratcheer...you may not get booze in your Costco, but you're just 20 miles away from Frank Stitt's restaurants!

[ratcheer]

Can't feel too bad for you, Ratcheer...you may not get booze in your Costco, but you're just 20 miles away from Frank Stitt's restaurants!

Ha ha, how true. Believe it or not, I have only been to one of his restaurants, one time. The food was great but the atmosphere just didn't fit what my wife and I were expecting / wanting. We never went back.

Now, I am retired and it is hard for us to afford such things.

Tim

[burghguy]

i was just looking at Binny's today. im not sure if i can have them ship to PA or not. PA is so crazy that i just assume its not allowed, but the only thing i could find on the control board's website talked specifically about wine. anyone in PA get shipments of online orders?

my lady says i can sit there and drink whiskey by myself all i want,

but not vodka, vodka is the alcoholic's drink.

I just wanted to let you know that I have received shipments of liquor from Binny's and I live in PA.

[BourbonJoe]

I just wanted to let you know that I have received shipments of liquor from Binny's and I live in PA.

Shopper's Vineyard will also ship to PA.

Joe :usflag:

[BourbonRob]

I just tried....they won't ship to Alabama....

Haven't found anyone yet...

[StraightBoston]

Surprised that none of the members from Massachusetts weighed in. Most that I've talked to shared my experience -- selection sucks in general and dusties, especially back to tax-strips, basically don't exist. Beer and wine are available in groceries or convenience stores, but hard liquor is only sold in privately-owned liquor stores ("packies").

Most of us hit Julio's in Westboro and Federal Wine and Spirits in Boston for selection and "special" bottles, but we go to the New Hampshire state stores for price. That is to say, the control state up north, with state-owned and operated stores, has the hands-down best prices (for what they have -- although "what they have" includes a handful of cases of BTAC and JRPS17!)

Taxes? Distributor markup? Dunno.

[dean_martin]

I just tried....they won't ship to Alabama....

Haven't found anyone yet...

I see you're from Spanish Fort. I live just up hiway 31 from you. Hit I-10, drive to Pensacola and open a UPS Store box. Use you're FL address for shipping. That's what I do.

[cowdery]

I see you're from Spanish Fort. I live just up hiway 31 from you. Hit I-10, drive to Pensacola and open a UPS Store box. Use you're FL address for shipping. That's what I do.

[OscarV]

In answer to the thread's question.

No problem here.

23 South to KY and 94 West to Chicago.

[Rughi]

People helping people. It gives me a warm glow.

Stop, Minelli Time!

:smil41df29a15fb35:

People, helping people

Are the luuuuuuuuuu-ckiest people...

[CorvallisCracker]

It gives me a warm glow.

Ooooo, what color? Warm fuzzy pink? Radioactive blue? UFO green?

[ratcheer]

I just tried....they won't ship to Alabama....

Haven't found anyone yet...

It is strictly forbidden to ship alcoholic beverages to Alabama, a felony, in fact.

Tim

[cowdery]

It is strictly forbidden to ship alcoholic beverages to Alabama, a felony, in fact.

Tim

[smokinjoe]

I honestly can't complain about Georgia. I travel a fair amount throughout the country, so I can make some pretty good comparisons. Pricing is competitive, if not better, than most other states that I visit. Selection is very good. The last couple of years have seen an explosion of new availability of craft beers and bourbon, which is what I buy the most of, so, it works for me. Actually, in a weird way, the better availability here has taken a lot of the fun out of going to other states, and load up on products that weren't available in Georgia. BT, ETL, BTAC, Four Roses, and one-offers, etc. are recent additions to the shelves here. Generally, the larger retailers are knowedgable and helpful. They seem to be the recipients of personal attention, education and sales promotions from the producers. This definitely is a plus for the consumer. From a bourbon distillery standpoint, Jimmy Russell (a couple of years ago)and Jim Rutledge (May 2010) have toured the area promoting their whiskies, which is always a good thing. There are no Sunday sales of liquor and beer in Georgia. This can be somewhat of a bitch if I run out of beer on a Sunday, but it's usually not a big deal for me. But my feeling is, Heck, if I can't plan better than that....well, I deserve to go without.

All in all, I give The Empire State of the South solid marks in meeting my alcohol buying expectations.

[bigtoys]

no complaints. Binny's is great. They often order what they don't have in stock.

Just shipped 6 cases of wine from CA; some from wineries and some ourselves at the UPS store to ourselves.

[BourbonRob]

Thanks for the UPS Box suggestion.... 56 miles for me...that's worth the drive any day!!!

[Waiahi]

Hawaii

We have pretty high taxes on all alcohol.

You can't buy alcohol between the hours of 12am and 6am. I've been to many a party that has ended before anybody wanted it too, because somebody forgot to collect the funds for a beer run before midnight.

Another law that drives me crazy? In drinking establishments and restaurants, each patron is only allowed one alcoholic beverage at a time. An entire beverage must be finished before a new one is served.

My problem here is that I love to sip on whiskey while also drinking beer...which in Hawaii is technically illegal.

Another stupid law, is the open container law.

Drunk driving is drunk driving. You have a BAC that is measurable and the ultimate evidence for conviction. The only thing an open container prohibition does is encourage people to litter their empty beverage containers...which in Hawaii means tossing your empties at the beach or on the roadside.

Finally, I've noticed a new practice here in Hawaii...and I was curious if other people in the country have seen the same - big chain C-stores like 7-11 now electronically scan your Hawaii Driver's License when you attempt to purchase any alcohol.

Call me paranoid, but I absolutely despise the idea that all of my personal info found on my Driver's License is now in a scannable bar code in which a company like 7-11 now gathers at POS.