Stupid state liquor laws

[SeattleUte]

This past week I was in Louisiana with my family. We arrived at a popular restaurant and they said we'd have to wait 40 minutes. They invited us to sit in the bar. I asked, "With the kids?" And they looked at me like I'd lost it. We went in and there were only two seats available--at the bar. I asked the bar tender if the kids (ages 4 and 5) could sit at the bar, and he said, "Of course!" You know what? They didn't snitch any alcohol drinks (I kept a close eye on them, ready to pounce). They seem not to have been too corrupted. They, in fact, got an educational and entertaining look at some highly expert oyster shucking, and slurped some to boot.

It was also nice to bring the wine from the wine tasting up to our rooms (in a Marriott).

All of the foregoing would have been absolutely illegal in Washington.

Washington is one of the few states that has state run liquor stores. Their hours are bad, as is the service. It's also oppressive. I feel like I'm back in 1996 Beijing when I go in one.

A recent study reveals that the state of Washington has been LOSING about $60 a year on state run liquor stores. It could eliminate the overhead and earn pure profit on the steep sin tax. A recent reputable study reveals that over the next five years Washington could increase revenue by $277 by divesting ownership of liquor stores to private interests. Why doesn't it do it? Unions.

Like the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, State liquor stores represent a nightmarish confluence of seemingly competing social engineering ideologies--here, socialism and prohibition.

Don't get me started about Utah. The bar tender at the Monaco gleefully told my wife and me that he had to make our martinis so watery or else he'd be arrested.

[il Padrino Ute]

When did the Mormon church take over the Washington state legislature?

[pellegrino]

I hate the liquor laws in my state and I don't even drink. I use it for cooking and it's a royal pain to have to go to a liquor store, pay more for a bottle of wine. At a minimum each state should allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine.

[wuapinmon]

Why did you go to Louisiana and not tell me. I offer free tourism advice.

[Solon]

I hate the liquor laws in my state and I don't even drink. I use it for cooking and it's a royal pain to have to go to a liquor store, pay more for a bottle of wine. At a minimum each state should allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine.

pennsylvania is similar. No alcohol sales on Sunday. Restaurants have to have a liquor license, and those are extremely expensive and the number is limited by population. Recently, an old dive went out of business on the edge of the county and its license is supposed to have gone for $100K (they're transferable).

On the other hand, Pennsylvania brought you Yeungling - America's oldest brewery.

[landpoke]

Kids can be in the bar, but not at the bar here. Which makes no damn sense. On the other hand kids can drink here if they're with their parents. So that evens it out.

[pellegrino]

pennsylvania is similar. No alcohol sales on Sunday. Restaurants have to have a liquor license, and those are extremely expensive and the number is limited by population. Recently, an old dive went out of business on the edge of the county and its license is supposed to have gone for $100K (they're transferable).

On the other hand, Pennsylvania brought you Yeungling - America's oldest brewery.

Yes, PA is one of those states with really stupid liquor laws. What I find most ironic about it is that you can bring a bottle with you to the restaurant, open it, drink half of it and then take the open bottle home with you in the car.

[myboynoah]

This past week I was in Louisiana with my family. We arrived at a popular restaurant and they said we'd have to wait 40 minutes. They invited us to sit in the bar. I asked, "With the kids?" And they looked at me like I'd lost it. We went in and there were only two seats available--at the bar. I asked the bar tender if the kids (ages 4 and 5) could sit at the bar, and he said, "Of course!" You know what? They didn't snitch any alcohol drinks (I kept a close eye on them, ready to pounce). They seem not to have been too corrupted. They, in fact, got an educational and entertaining look at some highly expert oyster shucking, and slurped some to boot.

It was also nice to bring the wine from the wine tasting up to our rooms (in a Marriott).

All of the foregoing would have been absolutely illegal in Washington.

Washington is one of the few states that has state run liquor stores. Their hours are bad, as is the service. It's also oppressive. I feel like I'm back in 1996 Beijing when I go in one.

A recent study reveals that the state of Washington has been LOSING about $60 a year on state run liquor stores. It could eliminate the overhead and earn pure profit on the steep sin tax. A recent reputable study reveals that over the next five years Washington could increase revenue by $277 by divesting ownership of liquor stores to private interests. Why doesn't it do it? Unions.

Like the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, State liquor stores represent a nightmarish confluence of seemingly competing social engineering ideologies--here, socialism and prohibition.

Don't get me started about Utah. The bar tender at the Monaco gleefully told my wife and me that he had to make our martinis so watery or else he'd be arrested.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yYxQx3UAY0"]YouTube- The Beverly Hillbillies-The Clampetts Strike Oil 3/5 (1962)[/ame]

[SeattleUte]

YouTube- The Beverly Hillbillies-The Clampetts Strike Oil 3/5 (1962)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/WA-among-states-weighing-sale-of-liquor-business-83721007.html

[DU Ute]

YouTube- The Beverly Hillbillies-The Clampetts Strike Oil 3/5 (1962)

If my numbers are right the state of WA is losing out on $337!

[myboynoah]

http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/...-83721007.html

You need a Cuzin Pearl.

[SeattleUte]

You need a Cuzin Pearl.

Currently, liquor brings in about $320 million in revenue to Washington each year, but a recent report by Washington state Auditor Brian Sonntag found that the state could increase revenue by as much as $277 million over five years if it changed its current liquor model.

I heard the $60 million in losses over the past five years figure on NPR, but it's consistent. (yes, I meant to say $277 million lol.)

[Solon]

Yes, PA is one of those states with really stupid liquor laws. What I find most ironic about it is that you can bring a bottle with you to the restaurant, open it, drink half of it and then take the open bottle home with you in the car.

yeah, that always kills me. My dept. will take a visiting bigwig out to a fancy restaurant, and then one guy shows up 3 minutes late with a six-pack for the group. if you bring wine, you still have to pay a corking fee.

[YOhio]

On the other end of the spectrum you have Ohio, where you can buy mini-bottles from a basket next to the gum at the gas station. I have a special fondness for the drive-through beer stops that are usually painted a garish orange or green. You can get a wide variety of your mainstream liquors without even leaving your car! I like to use them for the occasional bottle of Coke Zero, which is usually pretty discounted. Thanks, Dayton.

[SeattleUte]

One of the fun things to do if you like wine and are humble about your wine knowledge (not a wine snob) is to join a wine club. Each month they send you a selection of wines from all over the world with tasting notes. It's something my wife and I enjoy doing over dinner. It's educational, and nice to have an expert selecting wines most of which we'd never heard of. Well, we've had a hard time joining a club--they are often associated famous chefs or respected clultural institutions like the New York Times--because Washington laws present too many obstacles. Typically the web site has a map indicating states they can and can't serve and most of them say no to Washington. Our last club had to fire us. We'll see what happens with the latest. It makes my blood boil. I'd be less pissed if I were in Utah, but Washington is so hypoctritical or excessive in its regulation.