OT - Stupid Liquor Laws

Botch

The utard legislature (herein referred to as the church-state) convenes on MLK Holiday (for spiteful reasons) and adjourned for the year a few days ago.  Major changes to the "Zion Curtain":
 

 
This is a screen to prevent children from seeing alcoholic drinks being mixed/poured.  This has been a requirement for any new restaurant opening in utard for the last few years (existing restaurants were grandfathered/exempt).  This year, everyone is allowed to get rid of these curtains, provided a 6' to 10' "barrier" is established between the bar and any place a child might be located or walking through.  I haven't yet found the details of 6' vs. 10'.  I do know that in one of my favorite eateries (Rooster's in Ogden) this will close off their beautiful atrium to any families, as the bar is too close to the wall you have to walk along to get to the atrium.  The "grandfathering" has also been eliminated, and many established restaurants are screaming about it.  
They've also lowered the legal DWI limit from .08% to .05%; for someone like me (230 lbs) that makes a second glass of wine with dinner a very risky proposition.  Good thing I've given up on dating anymore.
 
I know the church-state doesn't have a monopoly on stupid alcohol laws; let's hear yours!  

JohnInCarolina

Hiding alcohol from youngsters is always super effective!

Legume

What's alcohol?

Killit_and_Grillit

I am in Nashville...buckle of the Bible Belt, so liquor laws are beyond common sense. 

However this is a new kind of stupid. 

JohnInCarolina

I look forward to the day when we all view the marijuana laws in a minority of states and counties as nutty.

CodyA88

I'm sure other Georgians will chime in but we can't buy beer from breweries directly.  We can buy a tour and get a free "gift" with purchase, in the form of a bomber, essentially.  No growlers direct from breweries, although they finally (last year) have allowed for brew pubs to sell growlers direct to consumers.  Looks like laws may be changing here to ease the 3-tier regulations.  We'll see.

bgebrent

JohnInCarolina said:

I look forward to the day when we all view the marijuana laws in a minority of states and counties as nutty.

And based on what trillion studies do you assert this.  Or do you just oppose government prohibition?  Follow the science.  I know you can.   Unless I misunderstand your position.  Dude, pot is bad medically and in every other way.

theyolksonyou

One strange one I've run into. Flew into OK on a Sunday, stopped for a bite. Being from the belt, always ask if they can serve on Sunday. Yes, but it has to be low alcohol beer. Same brands, just low alcohol, just for Sunday. "Bring me the 32oz..."

bgebrent

theyolksonyou said:

One strange one I've run into. Flew into OK on a Sunday, stopped for a bite. Being from the belt, always ask if they can serve on Sunday. Yes, but it has to be low alcohol beer. Same brands, just low alcohol, just for Sunday. "Bring me the 32oz..."

Good call Jason!

RRP

Not sure if it is still a law in Missouri, but if an establishment sold 5% beer during the week then they could not sell any beer on Sunday. But if a place sold 3.2% beer all week they could also sell it after 12:00 noon on Sunday. As a mere 18 year old who looked like I was 15 and used to get razzed by buddies as "baby face" I could and did often buy cases of that horse p*ss 3.2% for them! Of course back then MO's driver's license was nothing more than a photograph negative! Being born in 1944 then using a mere no. 2 pencil the 1944 easily became 1941 to weak eyed store clerks. 

JohnInCarolina

bgebrent said:

JohnInCarolina said:

I look forward to the day when we all view the marijuana laws in a minority of states and counties as nutty.

  Dude, pot is bad medically and in every other way.

LOL!

stlcharcoal

RRP said:

Not sure if it is still a law in Missouri, but if an establishment sold 5% beer during the week then they could not sell any beer on Sunday. But if a place sold 3.2% beer all week they could also sell it after 12:00 noon on Sunday. As a mere 18 year old who looked like I was 15 and used to get razzed by buddies as "baby face" I could and did often buy cases of that horse p*ss 3.2% for them! Of course back then MO's driver's license was nothing more than a photograph negative! Being born in 1944 then using a mere no. 2 pencil the 1944 easily became 1941 to weak eyed store clerks. 

I think that one is gone, but there are still "blue laws" on the books.  Unless you pay the extra tax, you cannot sell between like 1am-6am during the week, and not at all on Sunday.  STL City and KC City (not counties) has additional laws on that.  They recently passed something allowing stores to sell single bottles or cans vs. in a case or pack.  I'm not sure how it all works--it's all a money grab though. 

I remember reading something about why there were short neck bottles......something about a ban/tax/whatever on "long necks" in certain states or cities?  Anybody ever here of that?

Eggcelsior

bgebrent said:

JohnInCarolina said:

I look forward to the day when we all view the marijuana laws in a minority of states and counties as nutty.

And based on what trillion studies do you assert this.  Or do you just oppose government prohibition?  Follow the science.  I know you can.   Unless I misunderstand your position.  Dude, pot is bad medically and in every other way.

Wait, what? Has cancer or autoimmune disease never affected anyone you personally know?

HeavyG

Pretty much all liquor laws in all states originally derive from church influence on the state.

In my state - Virginia - all liquor is only sold in state run ABC stores. A few years ago when Republican Bob "The Grifter" McDonnell became governor one of his big issues was privatizing the ABC stores and allowing other businesses (like grocery stores) to sell "the hooch".

That whole effort fell apart after church pressures and the feeling that the state would be giving up too much money in taxes each year.

Establishments also have to sell  a certain amount of food in order to sell liquor. I don't recall offhand what the ratio of income from food/liquor has to be. Bars that just sell alcohol do not exist here.

HeavyG

JohnInCarolina said:

bgebrent said:

JohnInCarolina said:

I look forward to the day when we all view the marijuana laws in a minority of states and counties as nutty.

  Dude, pot is bad medically and in every other way.

LOL!

He really took the original "Reefer Madness" movie to heart.

johnnyp

In VA, bars can advertise having a large number of beers on tap.....but, can't discuss what they'll be.

I found this out by calling a local bar called Tap-House to ask if they had a specific import on tap.  I was told they weren't allowed to discuss their alcohol selection over the phone, only in person.  I thought the guy was just being a d!ck until I called a 2nd bar and got the same answer. 

billt01

JohnInCarolina said:

Hiding alcohol from youngsters is always super effective!

@JohnInCarolina

I always hid mine from adults

GrateEggspectations

Hiding booze from kids during serving like it's contraband instead of exposing them to it via responsible serving and consumption is lunacy.

Can we take a moment to remember that this is a legal product?!

saluki2007

When I was living in Memphis you could not buy beer in the same place as liquor or wine, unless that beer was above 7%.  Even then it had to be sold in single bottles.  Liquor/Wine stores also were not allowed to sell tobacco products.  Always thought this was a great idea.  Make the drunks drive to two different places to get there fixes...

poster

I know in MN theres no selling on Sunday, except for that 3.2 crap at the gas stations. Whats up with all the malt coolers you guys have too? Mike's Hard, Seagram's, Woody's  for example are all malt coolers in MN, Up here in CDN they are all vodka coolers and 7%?? Always wondered about this

Focker

bgebrent said:

JohnInCarolina said:

I look forward to the day when we all view the marijuana laws in a minority of states and counties as nutty.

And based on what trillion studies do you assert this.  Or do you just oppose government prohibition?  Follow the science.  I know you can.   Unless I misunderstand your position.  Dude, pot is bad medically and in every other way.

Surely you can't be serious?

fishlessman

massachusetts, no beer before noon on sunday, taxed heavily, no happy hours

maine taxes are big league or bigly, you will lose your right to drive if you drink, even if its a canoe with paddles. ive seen stats where after 9pm on a thursday about 40 percent of the drivers do not have a valid license

everyone here travels to and buys in nh at the state run liquor stores, pretty inexpensive but the highest proof is 151. beer and liquor cant be sold in the same store except one near the canadian boarder

FarmerTom

I live in a "Dry" county here in Ky.  Except for a couple of small towns that have recently voted for alcohol sales.  A county wide vote was recently defeated by only a few votes.  Really makes a lot of sense, make em drive to an adjoining county to get it.  Yes sir, that keeps it off the roads.  You wouldn't believe the crap that was preached in opposition to allowing liquor sales.  And according to state law, our population would only allow for a max of 3 establishments any way.  And state wide, no alcohol sales until after the polls close on election day.  That really makes a lot of sense.  Personally, I would have loved to have been good and soused this last election and not have had a clue who I was voting for.  

northGAcock

JohnInCarolina said:

bgebrent said:

JohnInCarolina said:

I look forward to the day when we all view the marijuana laws in a minority of states and counties as nutty.

  Dude, pot is bad medically and in every other way.

LOL!

That $hit will make you go crazy.

tgs2401

In Kentucky, children are allowed in bars as long as they are with an adult. We start training them young on our outstanding bourbon, race horses and beautiful women

saluki2007

Focker said:

bgebrent said:

JohnInCarolina said:

I look forward to the day when we all view the marijuana laws in a minority of states and counties as nutty.

And based on what trillion studies do you assert this.  Or do you just oppose government prohibition?  Follow the science.  I know you can.   Unless I misunderstand your position.  Dude, pot is bad medically and in every other way.

Surely you can't be serious?

I'm not serious and don't call me Surely!

YukonRon

AFarmerTom said:

I live in a "Dry" county here in Ky.  Except for a couple of small towns that have recently voted for alcohol sales.  A county wide vote was recently defeated by only a few votes.  Really makes a lot of sense, make em drive to an adjoining county to get it.  Yes sir, that keeps it off the roads.  You wouldn't believe the crap that was preached in opposition to allowing liquor sales.  And according to state law, our population would only allow for a max of 3 establishments any way.  And state wide, no alcohol sales until after the polls close on election day.  That really makes a lot of sense.  Personally, I would have loved to have been good and soused this last election and not have had a clue who I was voting for.  

As odd as this may seem, there remains several "Dry Counties" which continue to legally distill and operate bourbon manufacturing, in Kentucky.

poster

fishlessman said:

massachusetts, no beer before noon on sunday, taxed heavily, no happy hours

maine taxes are big league or bigly, you will lose your right to drive if you drink, even if its a canoe with paddles. ive seen stats where after 9pm on a thursday about 40 percent of the drivers do not have a valid license

everyone here travels to and buys in nh at the state run liquor stores, pretty inexpensive but the highest proof is 151. beer and liquor cant be sold in the same store except one near the canadian boarder

Taxes here in Ontario are large and I think worse in other provinces. A local vodka producer just shut down here. He was selling his vodka for $45/26oz, his profits were about $4/bottle. The big brands sell for about $25-$30 for a 26oz. Also price per oz. doesn't change with size here so bigger bottles don't save you any money. There is also a minimum price for 24 bottles of beer. I believe its $32.00 now? Most brands are in the $35-$40/case (bottles) range and above $40 for cans. Our hard stuff is still called out in oz. here 26er, 40's and 60's kinda weird for a metric country especially the 40oz (1.14L). Even weirder the 40 oz. isn't exported to the US, its changed to a 1L which isn't available here?

fishlessman

poster said:

fishlessman said:

massachusetts, no beer before noon on sunday, taxed heavily, no happy hours

maine taxes are big league or bigly, you will lose your right to drive if you drink, even if its a canoe with paddles. ive seen stats where after 9pm on a thursday about 40 percent of the drivers do not have a valid license

everyone here travels to and buys in nh at the state run liquor stores, pretty inexpensive but the highest proof is 151. beer and liquor cant be sold in the same store except one near the canadian boarder

Taxes here in Ontario are large and I think worse in other provinces. A local vodka producer just shut down here. He was selling his vodka for $45/26oz, his profits were about $4/bottle. The big brands sell for about $25-$30 for a 26oz. Also price per oz. doesn't change with size here so bigger bottles don't save you any money. There is also a minimum price for 24 bottles of beer. I believe its $32.00 now? Most brands are in the $35-$40/case (bottles) range and above $40 for cans. Our hard stuff is still called out in oz. here 26er, 40's and 60's kinda weird for a metric country especially the 40oz (1.14L). Even weirder the 40 oz. isn't exported to the US, its changed to a 1L which isn't available here?

maine and massachusetts are close to your prices if you take out the cheap beers and add the bottle deposit. nh is 30 to 40 percent less and no deposit just prepare for holiday markups in advance. the guinness stout is odd this year, 9.99 a twelve pack in nh.  a 1.75 liter of tangerauy is 27 bucks now. its odder they sell liquor here in liters   its too odd to even say liter here, we call those handles

Little Steven

poster said:

fishlessman said:

massachusetts, no beer before noon on sunday, taxed heavily, no happy hours

maine taxes are big league or bigly, you will lose your right to drive if you drink, even if its a canoe with paddles. ive seen stats where after 9pm on a thursday about 40 percent of the drivers do not have a valid license

everyone here travels to and buys in nh at the state run liquor stores, pretty inexpensive but the highest proof is 151. beer and liquor cant be sold in the same store except one near the canadian boarder

Taxes here in Ontario are large and I think worse in other provinces. A local vodka producer just shut down here. He was selling his vodka for $45/26oz, his profits were about $4/bottle. The big brands sell for about $25-$30 for a 26oz. Also price per oz. doesn't change with size here so bigger bottles don't save you any money. There is also a minimum price for 24 bottles of beer. I believe its $32.00 now? Most brands are in the $35-$40/case (bottles) range and above $40 for cans. Our hard stuff is still called out in oz. here 26er, 40's and 60's kinda weird for a metric country especially the 40oz (1.14L). Even weirder the 40 oz. isn't exported to the US, its changed to a 1L which isn't available here?

Yeah but you have "free" health care.

DaveRichardson

CodyA88 said:

I'm sure other Georgians will chime in but we can't buy beer from breweries directly.  We can buy a tour and get a free "gift" with purchase, in the form of a bomber, essentially.  No growlers direct from breweries, although they finally (last year) have allowed for brew pubs to sell growlers direct to consumers.  Looks like laws may be changing here to ease the 3-tier regulations.  We'll see.

Yes, the new proposed legislation in the House and Senate chambers in GA will now allow a certain limit of direct-sale to consumer.  The distributor networks have backed off this year and are actually supporting the legislation.  Yesterday, the House amended the bill they got from the Senate to include distilleries to direct-sell, but its got to go back to the Senate for approval.

I think it'll pass the revision and it'll be a boom for the craft brewing and distilling industry here in GA.