What do you call a liquor store?

[Rich Lambert]

Here, it's the Liquor Store.

I used to go to one in Houston called "The Center for Gracious Living".

[Jess]

Here in CO it's liquor store. I dated a girl from Chicago who always called it a "Party Store."

[R K T]

I used to "frequent" a good one when I lived in Arkansas. It was a gas station that after filling your tank, you went to the drive through window to pay. There you could order whatever booze you wanted "to go". They also sold fireworks.....fireworks that would get you jailtime in California!
Great combo......Gas, Booze and Fireworks!

[porsche4life]

In OK they are called package stores or liquor stores... Depends on what the owners want to put on the sign.

[Tobra]

In Cali it is liquor store. Heard them called by various names by people from different parts of the country. Package store/shop it for a lot of the the land, packie would be about right for a couplabastahds from Bahston.

Laws vary by state for a lot of stuff regarding booze, even by county. My father in law was pretty surprised that they sold hard liquor in the grocery store. I remember when I was in college, they sold hard liquor from a different store. Two in Salem, OR back in late '80s, seem to recall they were both state owned, closed really early.

[madmmac]

The sign said,



Liquor in the front, poker in the rear....

[Schumi]

I work with a lot of old Detroit guys and they use the term 'party store' sometimes.. appropriate, but odd.

[Heel n Toe]

In SC, most people just refer to them as liquor stores, but I have heard some people call them red dot stores.

Why is there a red dot on South Carolina liquor stores?

It is believed to have its origin in the South Carolina Constitution of 1895, article 8, section 11, which prohibited alcohol sales between sundown and sun-up. The red ball designates the sun and identifies the store as one that sells alcohol. The State newspaper, 10/03/1984, gave the following theory:

In the 1940s, the state was forcing liquor stores to shrink their signs dramatically, so as not to advertise alcohol too blatantly. Stores were allowed to use lettering only a few inches high on doors or windows. A Charleston liquor store "highlighted" the tiny lettering with a dramatic red dot, and everyone else followed suit.

Why is there a red dot on South Carolina liquor stores? | Richland County Public Library

[slodave]

Montana has state run stores. We called them state stores.

The drive thru in Jackson, Wyoming was a blast. Pull up and order a case (or whatever). How much better can it get?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by milt

ABC is how I knew them when I was living there. Package store in many states where liquor is sold by state run stores. Liquor store if all they have is a off sale liquor license.

I don't know how it is nowadays, but AZ used to sell beer/wine out of drive up windows. I remember pulling into Bullhead or Havasu City and buying some cold ones from the front seat. With CA plates, I had a local LEO follow me until I got to my motel and parked, locked and walked away (w/o the beer).

Never went back to those holes.

We have Liquor Stores for the hard stuff. Almost every gas station sells beer. There is a gas station a few blocks from my house where you can get cold beer handed to you while sitting in your car.

[fuelie600]

Originally Posted by slodave

Montana has state run stores. We called them state stores.

+1

Ohio used to have state run stores and everyone called them "state stores." Now the license liquor sales to third parties.

[osidak]

North Carolina
Package Store
ABC Store
Aunt Betty's
Liquor Store

South Carolina
Red Dot
Package
Red Ball
Liquor Store

[emcon5]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Military base liquor store = Class VI store

It was always called "Class 6" on Air Force Bases, but on Navy bases they were "Package Stores"

[MT930]

Originally Posted by slodave

Montana has state run stores. We called them state stores.

The drive thru in Jackson, Wyoming was a blast. Pull up and order a case (or whatever). How much better can it get?

Yep !

MT = State Stores

The drive through store in Jackson is simple called the cabin. I've taken a couple home from there.

[whiskyb]

I always thought that the ABC was for alcohol,beer and cigarettes

[juanbenae]

the altar.

[looneybin]

ABC = Alcohol Beverage Control
Here you can get any type of adult beverage at convenience stores, grocery stores, and liquor stores

[peppy]

Growing up in Va. we called the ones with the front counter ABC stores.(had to tell the clerk what you wanted and they went and got it for you) The walk in stores we called a package store.

[Eric 951]

In PA the state controls the liquor sales hence "State Store"

Although vacationing in Traverse City Michigan it was always "party store"

[jcommin]

Packaged goods from liquor stores comes from a time when liquor could be purchased w/o the original package or bottle. The term implies that buying liquor in it's original sealed bottle.