Outdated, Stale Liquor Laws...

Years ago, I dealt with a fine German brewer that wanted blanket US distribution. I told him then and still completely believe it now, that the USA is like 50 countries and very tough to navigate from abroad. That we have antiquated laws and regional differences is normal for a political system such as ours. In all reality, Prohibition wasn't that long ago. Post Civil War and turn of the 20th Century, this place was pretty damned drunk!

 

Back in 1992, I did a road trip to each of the Lower 48 with the aim of trying a local brew in each state. The local laws were a nightmare. Can't buy it on a Sunday here. Can't buy it in a grocery store there. Can only buy it in a beer store there. Can't transport it from here to there. Dry county, can't buy it at all here. I felt pretty stupid going up to people and saying, "Uh, where can I buy beer around here?"

And, of course, some states had little to no craft beer at all. ("Local beer? What do you mean by that?") Unsurprisingly, I failed. I imagine it would be a much easier mission today!

No BeerAdvocate then, either!

 

I think it was in the Squatter's brewpub in SLC that I had a 6% IPA. The way that works is that it was their IPA that they sold to the State and bought from the State Store. Not a draft beer, it was poured from a bottle.

 

To be fair, Country Boy was far from the only brewer coming out in favor of the law (I believe Yuengling said they would not consider distribution in KY without it); it was implemented to prevent ABInbev from monopolizing distribution in KY by trying to buy up existing distributors. No one seems to mind it that much; Rhinegeist, for example, had to switch up in KY and go through a distributor, but it hasn't limited access to their product. The stuff is downright ubiquitous.

I believe 2/3 or so of Kentucy's 120-something counties are dry in some form or fashion, but the legislature does allow individual communities and counties to decide, so it's a self-inflicted restriction. I'm fortunate to live in Louisville, the capital of vice in the Bluegrass, where we can more or less drink whatever we want. Bars close at 4, beer and liquor sales are all good on Sundays (after 1 p.m.), and there is no ABV cap on beer. We've got some strange laws, though: beer can be sold in a grocery store, but liquor and wine must have a separate entrance; liquor and wine can both be sold at drug stores; and some towns still prohibit sales on election day.

The worst KY beer law, though, is the one prohibiting shipping alcohol into the state.

 

Yeah, I forgot that work around. Thanks for the reminder. (Been a while since I was there....)

 

This law is kind of a reverse. My county has Blue Laws which means most stores cannot be open on Sunday. The exception is food, perishables and liquor stores.
So on a Sunday I can buy beer, whiskey and cigars, but I can't buy a pair of pants or a pair of shoes.
Now that I think about it, I am calling this a great law.

 

With what?

Cheers!

 

This one is stupid as is, but I believe it used to be a person had to be 21 to ring up alcohol. That actually makes sense; keeps underage kids from selling to their friends.

A lot of our laws are stupid, but it could be worse, it could be like PA. They have some of the most ridiculous laws I've ever heard of.

 

bottle shop in Bozeman MT can ship beer out of state but not instate...

 

I haven't been back in a while, but will be in Moab in Oct.

 

I still can't get over the case and the 96?oz rule in Pennsylvania. just ridiculous.

 

That's a great area of the state.

BTW, If you are a hiker, be sure to check out Arches, Canyonlands, and Capital Reef, folks tend to neglect them somewhat so the crowds won't be so thick and the scenery is spectacular. Also, a relatively good brewery in Moab.

 

"It is also illegal to bring any alcohol, including wine, purchased outside of the state into Pennsylvania without having certain licenses... People who move into the state must have their alcohol or wine collection movement approved by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board in advance,"

Wow, that never even would occur to me to think about if I was moving.

 

192 oz. can be purchased for take out. As someone else pointed out its possible to get one lot, take it to the car and then go back for another.

As for cases, that law has been in place basically since the end of Prohibition. But recently changed to allow beer stores to sell half cases if they come packaged that way by the brewery. No mix and match.

 

No beer sold after midnight in VA. Not crazy, just inconvenient.................

 

Holy smokes that is really something. I get some sort of perverse pleasure, I think, when I hear about states more "regulated" than NY.

 

There's a reason these 100+ year old laws continue to exist: its to the benefit of AB and the 3-tier distribution system. All the restrictions on higher ABV beers when you can buy alcohol? Keeps microbreweries edging in on AB. Can't buy from certain locations? Keeps micros from undercutting the distribs..of course they make no sense..unless you are trying to assert control over the availability of products and practices that are perceived to threaten a longstanding business with deep pockets for lobbying politicians.

BTW..I think its laughable that AB worries bud light drinkers are going to switch to 120 IPA, but they do convince the neo-prohibitionists that college kids will die if they don't prevent them from accidentally making the switch.

 

Whatever Tennessee has going on.... I was in Nashville last weekend. Strange.

 

In the commonwealth of Massachusetts:

Only pharmaceuticals- It is illegal to give beer to hospital patients.

Blue laws - Massachusetts liquor stores can only open on Sundays if they are in Berkshire, Essex, Franklin, Middlesex or Worcester counties and are within 10 miles of the Vermont or New Hampshire borders

Free booze - it’s illegal to donate beer or spirits — but not wine, to a charitable organization, either for sale at auction, or for serving at fundraising events.

Only unhappy hours - no happy hours, no drinks on the house, and no beer pong tournaments at the local bar
We gotcha- Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 138, section 25E, once a brewer has a relationship with a wholesaler lasting six months or more, the wholesaler gains distribution rights indefinitely regardless of performance.

Growlers - There appears to be nothing to prevent brewers from filling any growler, but the standard interpretation from both the ABCC and the brewers is that they believe it makes it illegal for them to fill any growlers other than their own, and that is the policy by which they seem to all operate.

 

Minnesota might take the cake.

The no alcohol Sunday thing is one thing.

The fact that brewpubs can't distribute is another. WHY in the H does serving food (in addition to serving your beer) somehow make you ineligible to share your brew outside your own walls.

I can find no logic here. Let the boys play ball.