Why do you call them "bottle shops?"

Where I grew up (SE PA), bottle shops, liquor stores, and beer distributors are all very different retail outlets.

Why do some people call it soda versus pop versus Coke versus....?

 

Like above, a bottle shop in PA refers to a place that sells individual bottles, or at most, six packs; that's it (unless you count 12 packs of gross cheap beer). Cases of beer can only be purchased at actual beer distributors. So... a bottle shop is just that, a shop that sells bottles. Also, wine and spirits are sold at state-owned liquor stores, which sell no beer. So, there are liquor stores, beer distributors, and bottle shops.

 

Certain stores only sell beer, and are therefor colloquially referred to as "(beer) bottle shops".

 

Not sure why we call them Bottle Shops here in Oz. I'm guessing its because they stock a load of Alcohol that mostly comes in bottles. In England they call them Off Licenses which I think relates to the customer having to drink the alcohol elsewhere, as the premises isn't licensed for the consumption of alcohol.

 

Similar thing in Virginia. Liquor/ABC stores are state owned and only sell spirits and some Virginia wines. "Bottle shops" are typically wine and beer stores that sell singles, six packs, cases, and kegs. Of course beer and wine is also sold in virtually every grocery too.

 

Liquor Store is the term here too, because we dont have the legal separation. Same store sells liquor/wine/beer.

Bottle shop is a weird term to me.

 

I call liquor stores bottle shops.

Less likely to be called an alcoholic when I go to the "bottle shop" 3 times a week

 

In New England you get your beer from the Packy.

 

There are stores in San Diego that only sell beer. They are bottleshops. Everything else is a liquor store

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pizza-ports-bottle-shop-carlsbad
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bottlecraft-beer-shop-and-tasting-room-san-diego

 

We call 'em 'packies'

 

No, that's where flatlanders get beer. In Vermont you get it anywhere, grocery stores, liquor stores, gas stations, mom & pop markets.

 

Yeah - grew up calling it the packy...and around heah we have a cawffee cabinet with Autocrat syrup (barrel aged in plastic drums, of course). It's wicked pissah!

A coffee cabinet is an ice cream-based beverage found almost exclusively in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, consisting of coffee ice cream, coffee syrup, and milk. The ingredients are mixed in a drink blender ormilkshake blender

 

A bottle shop to me is a place that is "craft beer friendly". For example there are two liquor stores near my house, one gets every shorts release, every founders backstage, kbs, bcbs, etc. even though it looks like a hole in the wall scummy liquor store, this is a bottle shop. The other liquor store which is a stone throw away has a selection that offers corona and Mississippi mud, this is just a liquor store. The term bottle shop lets other BA's know where they can get great beer, if you want a fifth of popov any store will do.

 

Where you and are in RI they are called liquor stores because they actually serve liquor. Other states can't sell beer and liquor together. Those places that sell beer only, or beer in wine in some places are called "bottle shops." Despite living amongst many "liquor stores" I find myself now referring to some of them as bottle shops myself. It makes sense given the language here on BA, as it is more universally understood.

I haven't said "the packie" in a while, I should start folding that one back in. Instead of saying "I am going to the bottle shop to grab some barleywine." I am going to start saying, "Gotta make a packie run!" again.

 

Isn't packie/packy just a RI term like bubbler?

 

No, New England.

 

Autocrat syrup. A fond part of my chilldhood, as my mother's family is from southeastern MA.

 

Excuse me, it's "bubblah" not bubbler. You take that fancy college boy talk back to Barrington.

 

I have always been curious as to what the result would be if I chucked a dash of Autocrat in an Imperial Stout.