Beer at the grocery store

[RougeUnderoos]

Can anyone tell me again why we can't buy beer in the grocery store or at convenience stores? What is the rationale again? The grocery store is allowed to sell beer, but they aren't allowed to sell beer in the grocery store - they have to put it in another building in the parking lot.

Like that Marda Loop Safeway -- after you buy your groceries from Safeway, you have to walk across the parking lot to buy your beer from Safeway.

Also, I heard some chain (Liquor Barn or Depot I think) is trying to take over a lot of liquor stores in town here and get such a market share that they'll be able to crank their prices up because there won't be anywhere else to go.

Does anyone know anything about this? It doesn't seem very likely because there are so many liquor stores, but I know they bought all them Willow Park Liquor Stores and the prices definitely went up.

[fredr123]

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act has all sorts of requirements that speak to your question.

For instance, no minors can be on the licensed premises. Selling Kokanee in Safeway would then mean that you couldn't permit mom and the three kids from going into Safeway to buy diapers if suds were on the shelf. Likewise, there are restrictions on the hours in which alcohol can be sold. That could limit Safeway's hours of operations as well.


The rationale behind those requirements... I don't know.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Doesn't make much sense that you can buy smokes in a grocery store, but not alcohol.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by fredr123

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act has all sorts of requirements that speak to your question.

For instance, no minors can be on the licensed premises. Selling Kokanee in Safeway would then mean that you couldn't permit mom and the three kids from going into Safeway to buy diapers if suds were on the shelf. Likewise, there are restrictions on the hours in which alcohol can be sold. That could limit Safeway's hours of operations as well.


The rationale behind those requirements... I don't know.

But kids can go into a liquor store with an adult. And some liquor stores have much longer hours than Safeway.

Both these reasons seem like some sort of "morals" thing.

[Burninator]

Speaking of US liqour stores.

I went and visited my friend who lives in a college town in the exciting state of South Dakota. Well one day when I was there we went to grab some beer (which is crazy cheap BTW), so we went to the grocery store to pick some up. As weird as that was for me, I noticed a rather large section in the middle of all the alcohol that all these small little boxes. It didn't really click what their where until one of the girls I was with said, "let's pick up some shells too, haha." So of course my naive mind thinks "shells of what?" Until I put two and two together, "Oh bullets!". They were selling ammunition in the middle of all the liquor! Possibly the worst combination of two products I have every seen together.

So I explain this rather unusual chain of events (to me at least) to one of my friends, fellow South Dakotan local. Who proceeds to show me his Concealed weapons licence!

*plays tune from Deliverance*

[RedHot25]

Ok, I'm staying away from Burninator now. You know that "your friends" are actually you in that story .

Anyways, I don't know Rouge, maybe its to save the pain of me standing in line with ice cream while you fumble for your id for a 15 year old cashier to check? Why all the while my wife complains discreetly about you because her ice cream is melting and you are taking too long....

[StoneCole]

In Pennsylvania, you can buy liquor at the liquor store, but not beer. If you want beer you have to go to the beer distributor.

But...if you want beer, you can also purchase in six packs from the local public house (a max. of two sixers per person per visit). You can also buy forties (i.e. Colt 45) at the pubs.

But...the six-packs and forties that you can buy at the pubs can't be consumed at the pubs; you have to buy individual bottles or draught if you want to drink beer at the pub.

Imagine trying to figure this out as a tourist.

[InSutterWeTrust]

Here in Nova Scotia, the government still controls the liqour stores and most liqour stores are connected next to a superstore or a sobeys which is nice.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Speaking of US liqour stores.

I went and visited my friend who lives in a college town in the exciting state of South Dakota. Well one day when I was there we went to grab some beer (which is crazy cheap BTW), so we went to the grocery store to pick some up. As weird as that was for me, I noticed a rather large section in the middle of all the alcohol that all these small little boxes. It didn't really click what their where until one of the girls I was with said, "let's pick up some shells too, haha." So of course my naive mind thinks "shells of what?" Until I put two and two together, "Oh bullets!". They were selling ammunition in the middle of all the liquor! Possibly the worst combination of two products I have every seen together.

So I explain this rather unusual chain of events (to me at least) to one of my friends, fellow South Dakotan local. Who proceeds to show me his Concealed weapons licence!

*plays tune from Deliverance*

But probably the best marketing scheme ever... In regards to bullet sales. I didn't see any bullets at the Safeway I went to though. Perhaps it just didn't register what they were though.

[Daradon]

As far a Liqour Depot/Liqour World (depending on the Alberta city you are in), I was working on their electricty and gas contracts when I was with Enmax and I can tell you they DID buy up a ton of stores esp in Calgary (they already owned a lot of them in Edmonton).

I noticed this anyway though because they bought up the one right across from my house.

Selection and service went down, prices went up.

I hate Liqour Depot!

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by fredr123

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act has all sorts of requirements that speak to your question.

Likewise, there are restrictions on the hours in which alcohol can be sold. That could limit Safeway's hours of operations as well.

The rationale behind those requirements... I don't know.

The hours thing can't be quite right, cause many liquor stores are open after the supermarkets close. They can be open until 2.

I guess that might limit 7-11 hours of operation, so you're right there, but Safeway would probably care less.

[McG]

in the UK, you can get beer and hard liquor at either the grocery store or the convenience store. some fish and chippies also sell "tinnies" as well as other stuff. very convenient.

the price therefore depends upon convenience...so no surprise there.

on the shell thread...my brother in law was doing some home remodelling...and he turns to one of his other helpers (not me), and says one of the potentially worst combined phrases..."bring me a crowbar and two beers".

[McG]

Originally Posted by Daradon

As far a Liqour Depot/Liqour World (depending on the Alberta city you are in), I was working on their electricty and gas contracts when I was with Enmax and I can tell you they DID buy up a ton of stores esp in Calgary (they already owned a lot of them in Edmonton).

I noticed this anyway though because they bought up the one right across from my house.

Selection and service went down, prices went up.

I hate Liqour Depot!

re: prices...i love superstore!

[MJK]

You can buy beer in NL at convenience stores. I love it!!!!!!!!

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by InSutterWeTrust

Here in Nova Scotia, the government still controls the liqour stores and most liqour stores are connected next to a superstore or a sobeys which is nice.

Yah, we have it not too bad down here that way. For the ones I've been to, quite often you don't even have to walk outside the building...they have one of those sliding door things separating the grocery store from the liquor store.

Poor Alberta suckers .

Although really we are the poor suckers, because other than a very small # of places, we can't buy liqour on Sundays. Sigh.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I would say that besides the laws about being a liquor store, one of the reasons would be that Safeway would have to make sure that their employees checking you through would all have to be 18+, which they most certainly are not.

[Hack&Lube]

It would be a better solution to have the liquor store connected to the store, but gated in another room. Sort of like the adults only section, etc.

[Josh]

I've never understood the point of convenience stores in Alberta if you can't buy beer.

Down here they've got a whole wall dedicated to beer.

God Bless America......

[BlackEleven]

Its not just in the States, here in Quebec you can buy beer in the grocery store, depanneur (convience store), sandwich shops, cafeterias and just about anywhere.

And what's really great about that is Costco sells beer and wine as well. Last time I was there I bought a dozen Stella for $9.99. I don't know if its always that price, since I hardly ever go there, but I might have to make more of a habit of it if it is.

[Clarkey]

I'm for beer in grocery and convenience stores.