Beer at the grocery store

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by 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.

I suppose, but that's pretty flimsy. They'd make money from liquor sales so they'd be sure to accomodate the boozehounds, even if they can only muster up a couple designated drinker checkouts.

There doesn't appear to be any valid reason for these regulations. We had some pretty kooky liquor laws not so long ago and this appears to be the last one standing.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Josh

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

And they still can't get it right.

[the-rasta-masta]

Speaking of Liquor Stores, I was in New Brunswick about 5 years ago(before I was actually old enough to drink), and I went in a liquor store with my Dad while he was buying some beer. They had no shelves filled with alcohol there, just a guy at a cash register next to a conveyor belt thing with rollers. My Dad asked for the beer he wanted and the employee rang it in and then someone in the back went and got it and pushed it onto this conveyor belt thing and it came sliding through some flaps in the wall. I've never seen liquor stores like this before and wonder if it is still like that in New Brunswick.

Anybody know why they do (did?) this or the reasons behind it?

[CMPunk]

Thats how alot of them used to be years ago...even in Alberta

[zukes]

Here in Ontario, it is really regulated. You buy beer at The Beer Store. You buy liquor at the liquor store, where you can also buy beer, but only by the 6 pack for the most part. That's it. Oh, wine is allowed to be sold near the exit of grocery stores. I guess it's a sophistication thing? If they are buying wine with their groceries they must not be going home to get bombed.

The only way around this is for small towns. Their convenience stores and grocery stores are allowed to sell beer and liquor. I'm not sure what size the town has to be before it qualifies or if they have to be rejected for a liquor or Beer store first.

[Clarkey]

There's a convenience store/gas station in Kananaskis that sells booze now that I think about it.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

Speaking of Liquor Stores, I was in New Brunswick about 5 years ago(before I was actually old enough to drink), and I went in a liquor store with my Dad while he was buying some beer. They had no shelves filled with alcohol there, just a guy at a cash register next to a conveyor belt thing with rollers. My Dad asked for the beer he wanted and the employee rang it in and then someone in the back went and got it and pushed it onto this conveyor belt thing and it came sliding through some flaps in the wall. I've never seen liquor stores like this before and wonder if it is still like that in New Brunswick.

That's like a lot of beer stores in Ontario. There are some where you can actually pick your own case but most have you telling the guy at the cash what you want and then rolling it up from the back.

I hated this system when I was up at the cottage last summer. The nearby Beer Store was out of a whole lot of brands but they didn't take down the bottles on the display wall they were out of.

Anybody know why they do (did?) this or the reasons behind it?

I'd guess that it's due to a couple of reasons. Maybe people don't like standing in a line carrying multiple cases of beer. Or they find it is easier to keep a smaller area where they keep the beer refridgerated. Also, they don't have to worry about people dropping cases of beer in the store.

[troutman]

Make your own beer and wine.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by 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.

All of Europe is the same. It's great.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

There's a convenience store/gas station in Kananaskis that sells booze now that I think about it.

there are a number of stores like that in rural areas. I recall a gas station in Grassland, Alberta that sold liquor as well.

[transplant99]

In NC you can buy beer and wine anywhere except in liquor stores...as long as it isnt a dry county (most assbackwards thing ever)....but on Sundays you must wait til after 12 noon, and the liquor stores are closed.

I go to the local market and i have choices from Newcastle to Molson Canadian to Dos Equis. Its cheap and its great. Bought a dozen Newcastles for the blond last week....with discount it was 11 bucks.

[burn_baby_burn]

I don't see what the big deal is. Any of the States that I have visited have beer at the grocery stores. Some States have weird rules. One time in Kansas City I grabbed a case of beer when we were in the grocery store. Got to the till and the clerk informed me that you coudn't buy beer on Sundays in Kansas (since KC borders Kansas and Missouri, they get some confused customers I guess). I just went and put it back. No biggie.

Living in Australia they had drive through liquer stores all over the place. I pulled into the closest one by work one day to get a bottle of Whiskey. They had a girl in a mini skirt giving out free samples (shots) of some new liquer. I thought, now this is a liberal country. I know, I know, your thinking about the drinking and driving. But Australia is fanatical when it comes to "drink driving". The only place I have ever had to blow in my life was over there. And it was at 2pm on a Tuesday. They check constantly.

[Bobblehead]

I don't mind that alcohol is generally in a separate store. It isn't really inconvenient and they offer a lot of selection. And it is easier to monitor for underage sales.

I'm not against looking at allowing other places to sell, I'm just not sure there is a problem with the way it is.

It's a heck of a lot better than it was in Ont.
I recall back at McMaster there was one beer store and one liquor store, neither of which were handy to the university (and were on opposite directions). And after I graduated they closed the beer store (no correlation to those events). Stupid, stupid, stupid

Where I live now, just counting in my head there are 2 beer/liquor stores within a 10 minute walk, and 7 within a 5 minute drive.

Edit: It was in Aus where Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters got his DUI. He was riding a scooter back to his hotel after a show, and blew over. link

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I don't see what the big deal is. Any of the States that I have visited have beer at the grocery stores. Some States have weird rules. One time in Kansas City I grabbed a case of beer when we were in the grocery store. Got to the till and the clerk informed me that you coudn't buy beer on Sundays in Kansas (since KC borders Kansas and Missouri, they get some confused customers I guess). I just went and put it back. No biggie.

It's not a big deal, but it would obviously be more convenient, and I still haven't heard a decent reason why we have these regulations in Alberta.

As for "no beer on Sundays in Kansas", that is ######ed. Again, why not?

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

As for "no beer on Sundays in Kansas", that is ######ed. Again, why not?

Not quite to the same extent, but close here in nova scotia.

All the gov't liquor/beer (they are one and the same) are closed here on Sundays.

You are not completely out of luck on Sundays, however its a lot tougher. Only very few (and I mean VERY few..my wife and I know of one), small small liquor stores are open to sell wine/beer. But they aren't everywhere; they are quite limited in quantity.

The funny thing is that the beer store at the beer plant (i.e. literally the place that makes beer) can be open on sundays to sell beer. It is funny down here, as you would see a (literally) mile long line up just to get into the store. Especially during the CFL/NFL season.

Cheers

[GeoffSK]

Well in Saskatchewan, our government regulates all alcohol sales. We have to by our booze at the LBS (Liquer Board Store) or offsale(open till 3am) where all they sell is cold beer and wine. All our beer is pretty much the same price. In fact I can buy Saskatchewan made beer cheaper in Alberta than in Saskatchewan. I was told that the Co-op brand beer in Alberta is brewed by the Great Western Brewing company located in Saskatoon. Apperently Co-op beer is just Brewhouse Lager with the Co-op label.

Now I'm just thirsty.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by GeoffSK

All our beer is pretty much the same price.

What!? How so? I take it to mean that all the different brands are pretty much the same price, and that sounds just too good to be true.

[jolinar of malkshor]

My opinion is when the provincial government deregulated liquor to the private sector in the 90's, they didn't want to go all the way as to allow anyone to sell it. No other province allowed it except maybe Quebec and I think they may have been worried about a backlash from the public, moving to such an American style system. So they went down the middle of the road and allowed private sales in actual liquor stores.

Now that the infrastructure is on place, it would be pretty hard to allow everyone to sell booze. It would put a lot of people out of business as there would be no real reason to visit the actual liquor stores. I think if the government is going to deregulate, it needs to allow everyone to sell from the get go. If not, to many people will lose their business 15-20 years down the road.

Just my take on it.

[OilersBaby]

California..all alcohol is at any grocery store..Safeway, Costco, Trader Joe's, Albertsons, wherever you shop....and I like it that way cuz it sucks to go somewhere seperate just to buy your alchohol. People who want to drink are going to get it no matter where you sell it - so you might as well keep it convenient.

[OilersBaby]

Originally Posted by fotze

I love TRader Joe's. Candy coated sunflower seeds, mmmmm.

Yup, the stuff they have is not mainstream at all, but soooooooo much better!! I just got chocolate covered pistachio's and candy coated walnuts.....and chocolate covered banana candy. As well as the awesome chicken/fish they have..and the fruits, vegetables, and their brand of soda rules too!

SOOOOOOOOO much cheaper than the $$$$$$$$ stores in Alberta. Went to visit Oilfan in March and was like WTF when I saw the cost of groceries.

Trader JOES forever