Liquor Laws for 5 locales

[LauraBL]

Sorry for this very unscientific mode of research. Since liquor laws can vary so much from one county to the next, let alone between each state.

I am trying to find out what the liquor laws are for:
Seattle, WA
Milwaukee, WI
Albany, NY
College Park, MD
Denver, CO

Specifically "Can you buy wine in the grocery store?"
Also are liquor stores open on Sundays? Any other quirks or info would be appreciated. :D :D :D ;)

[LaraW]

The answers for Denver would be "no" and "no".

You can buy *some* beer in the grocery store - it is called 3/2 beer or something. I don't think you can buy microbrewed beer at the grocery store because of its higher alcohol content.

It was definitely something to get used to when we moved here, because in Iowa, where we moved from, you CAN buy all types of liquor in the grocery store, 7 days a week.

[LauraBL]

Lara-

Thanks for the info on Denver and on Iowa.

The Colorado liquor laws must be a lot like Oklahoma. 3.2 % beer in the grocery store and wine coolers.(and they wonder why we have a weight problem in this state.........)
Everything else (including room temperature 6. beer) at the liquor store M-Saturday only.

We are anticipating a move this fall for my husband to go to graduate school.
Trying to weight all the options and find out important criteria like buying wine in the grocery store and proximity to Trader Joe's.

Laura

[Canice]

I hope someone will clarify the (to me) odd law in Seattle about drinking liquor in bars. Like - can you?

[Gumbeaux]

I find it odd that miniature airline bottles of liquor are banned in some areas of the country while the large 1.75 liter bottles are banned in other areas.

[Valerie226]

seattle area; beer & wine sold in grocery stores. wine and maybe some beer sold in state liquor stores, along with hard stuff. most liquor stores are not open on sunday but just recently an experiment opened a few stores on sunday. Grocery stores vary widely as to extent of wine/beer selection.
Canice, it used to be( unsure if still true) that to get a license to serve hard liquor a business had to get a certain percentage of its profits from food or lodging , something other than the liquor itself. so the only places who served hard stuff were nice restaurants, and hotels. "taverns" and most restaurants sell only beer and wine. I'm honestly not sure if that is still the case as I am pretty much a beer/wine drinker anyway. there are tribal casinos all over the place & I don't know what rules ( probably none) apply to them.

[AndreaU]

In New York, wine isn't even sold in grocery stores/supermarkets. You'd have to go to a liquor or wine store which generally open at Noon on Sundays (if at all). However, Albany is only about an hour drive from the wine region of the Hudson Valley where you can stock up right at the wineries!


As for TJ's, the closest you'll find to Albany is in Danbury, CT! (about a 2 hour drive)

[bobmark226]

As for TJ's, the closest you'll find to Albany is in Danbury, CT! (about a 2 hour drive)

Yes, but wine isn't sold in grocers in CT either. Another oddity is that NYC liquor stores were not allowed to be open on Sunday unless they sold only NY products, meaning wine. Only last year they allowed liquor stores to be open on Sunday, but only if they closed one other day during the week. NY has very bizarre and old fashioned blue laws that probably cost them tax revenue.

I find it odd that miniature airline bottles of liquor are banned in some areas of the country while the large 1.75 liter bottles are banned in other areas.

Remind me to check before I move. :)

Bob

[Canice]

Thanks, Valerie - that sounds right now. I think it was around 1998 that I discovered that; I ususally drink wine, too, but must have tried to order a drink-drink when I was told that. It seemed so weird to me at first - like not allowing candy stores to sell chocolate!

Your hubby should go to UC, Laura: you can buy wine and liquor just about anywhere, 6AM to 2AM every day. (Yea, I know - big surprise.)

[cminmd]

The crazy thing about Maryland is that only the "flag" store for each chain can sell beer and wine. So the more common a chain store is, the less likely you are going to hit the one with the booze! They have liquor stores here for beer, wine and the hard stuff and they are open all day until about 6 or 7. They they also have retail wine stores that can stay open the same hours as other retail stores- 10n til 10, except Sundays. Another weird tidbit- you can't mail wine to someone in Maryland- no wine shipped from people, vinyards or wine of the month clubs here!

Safeway
13814 Outlet Dr.
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Phone: 301-890-7070

Departments: Deli, Bakery, Pharmacy, Floral, Liquor, Produce, SunTrust Bank

Safeway
514 Rhode Island Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-636-8640

Departments: Deli, Bakery, Pharmacy, Floral, Liquor, Produce

Giant (none listed liquor department, but this one seemed to have the most)
10501 Greenbelt Rd.
Lanham, MD 20706
301-666-1180

SERVICE DEPARTMENTS:
- Flower Shop
- Pharmacy
- Bakery
- Seafood Department
- Butcher Shop
- Deli
- Rituals' Coffee Bar
- Red Box DVD Rental


Magruders grocery does not have a website apparently, but the one near me in Gaithersburg is the one with the good stuff so you probably don't want to go that far.

[cchhbb]

Wisconsin: When we lived there 6 years ago, I know you could buy beer, wine, and hard liquor at the grocery store. I think it was 7 days a week. I used to do my grocery shopping super early on Saturday mornings and I remember having to wait to check out until 7 am when you could buy alchohol. You could also have wine shipped to you there.

Now I live in Georgia. You can buy wine and beer at the grocery store, but you have to go to a liquor store to buy hard liquor. There is no alcohol sales on Sunday and you can't have wine shipped to you.

[AndreaU]

Yes, but wine isn't sold in grocers in CT either.
Bob

Didn't even think of that!

[JackieO]

Wisconsin: When we lived there 6 years ago, I know you could buy beer, wine, and hard liquor at the grocery store. I think it was 7 days a week. I used to do my grocery shopping super early on Saturday mornings and I remember having to wait to check out until 7 am when you could buy alchohol. You could also have wine shipped to you there.

I think in general the state law allows all (beer, wine and liquor) to be sold in grocery stores seven days a week, but individual communities may add restrictions. But I don't think you can buy it between 9 pm and 7 am.

Milwaukee doesn't have any further restrictions (other than limiting the number of outlets that can sell alcohol). I live in Brown County now, and the liquor departments of the grocery stores have to be physically separate with separate check outs. At some stores, I can still buy wine or beer in the regular grocery store check-out lanes, but all hard-liquor purchases have to be made in the liquor store area. It's more confusing than inconvenient. :( :confused:

As for Trader Joe's, I think the nearest one is in Chicago, although I think I've heard rumors that there might be one opening in Madison and another in the northern Milwaukee 'burbs.

[rhondac]

Lara-

proximity to Trader Joe's.

Laura

The closest Trader Joe's to Denver is Sante Fe, NEW MEXICO! (New Mexico you can buy liquor in grocery stores 24/7).

[guttergrrl]

Yes, but wine isn't sold in grocers in CT either. Another oddity is that NYC liquor stores were not allowed to be open on Sunday unless they sold only NY products, meaning wine. Only last year they allowed liquor stores to be open on Sunday, but only if they closed one other day during the week. NY has very bizarre and old fashioned blue laws that probably cost them tax revenue.


Liquor stores in NY can be open 7 days a week now. They got rid of that closing-on-one-other-day thing not long after they instituted it, IIRC. I'm not sure what the city's policy is, but I know around here you can go any day of the week.

I'm not sure if Danbury, CT is the closest TJ to Albany. The one in Hadley, MA (close to Northampton) is about 1.5 hours (sometime more, sometimes less) and makes a lovely day trip over the Mass Pike. My gf and I go to Noho about 4 times a year for various events, so we usually stop in and stock up while we're in the area. Plus there's a great co-op in Albany that keeps me happy even if TJ isn't around. :)

[LauraBL]

I think in general the state law allows all (beer, wine and liquor) to be sold in grocery stores seven days a week,

As for Trader Joe's, I think the nearest one is in Chicago, although I think I've heard rumors that there might be one opening in Madison and another in the northern Milwaukee 'burbs.

Oh Oh JackieO...........if that Milwaukee burb Trader Joe's were a done deal it would add more points to Milwaukee in my eyes at least.

But the availability and proximity of wine in the grocery store is a major PLUS

Is it too much to ask to be able to pick up a bottle when you need it for a recipe and to sample while cooking?

[kimszy]

As JackieO said, a yes to both of your questions for Milwaukee.
I have also heard that a Trader Joes is coming. (According to the journalsentinel all that we're waiting for is a formal announcement.) Wholefoods is going up on the Eastside and there is also a planned Fresh Market for the west side.