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is it cheaper to buy alcohol at a grocery store or liquor store

by Dr. Tamara Miller Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Full Answer

Can you buy alcohol in grocery stores?

Grocery stores in some states sell every kind of alcohol possible. Others restrict sales to just beer and wine. Some grocery stores around the country have even added wine bars and beer gardens right in the stores.

Do grocery stores sell more liquor from their aisles?

These grocery store locations reportedly get more traffic since the addition of the bars, but it's unclear whether they also actually get more liquor and grocery sales from their aisles too. Whatever the laws in your state, here are some alcohols you should never buy from your grocery store.

Which grocery stores sell the best hard alcohol?

In order to save you money on your next cocktail night, I decided to look at the major grocery stores common to university areas and compare the prices between the wine, beer, and hard alcohol sold at each. Trader Joe’s offers some of the best selections for low-priced, good quality hard alcohol, beer, and wine.

Should you buy wine at the grocery store?

Armed with that knowledge, there's no reason you should ever purchase wine at the grocery store again. A favorite of the '80s and '90s, Boone's Farm still exists and can be acquired for about $3-4 a bottle. Produced by E & J Gallo Winery, back in the day, this apple wine product was available in a number of fruity flavors.

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How can I save money to buy alcohol?

If you want to get your booze spending in order, try these tips to save money on alcohol before you totally liquidate your checking account.Prioritize happy hour. ... Drink at home. ... Some restaurants allow you to bring your own alcohol. ... Join a wine club. ... Buy in bulk. ... Don't buy alchol on Saturday. ... Go duty free.More items...•

Is it cheaper to buy wine from the grocery store?

There are, on average, cheaper days to buy beer and wine from the grocery store, according to Ibotta, an app that connects with retailers to give cash back deals to customers. Ibotta found that major grocery stores are most likely to offer sales and discounts on specific items during each day of the week.

Is liquor the same price everywhere?

The price of a bottle of liquor varies widely state by state. If you live in Colorado, for example, you might be used to paying around $20 for a bottle of nice vodka. In New York, that same bottle goes for twice as much. The same sort of price differentiation goes for for cheaper bottles.

What state has the cheapest liquor prices?

Spirits are taxed the least in Wyoming and New Hampshire, where government-run stores have set prices low enough that they are comparable to having no taxes on spirits. Following Wyoming and New Hampshire are Missouri ($2.00), Colorado ($2.28), Texas ($2.40), and Kansas ($2.50).

Does Trader Joe's give discounts on cases of wine?

There's no case discount like at wine stores, so get however many bottles you want. At Joe's prices, you're already scoring a deal! Ask the employees for their favorites and which bottles have been popular recently.

How do you pick wine from a grocery store?

Check out these 9 strategies to help you pick winning grocery store wines every time.Stick to the $10-$20 Dollar Range. ... Seek out similar-looking labels, or copy-cats, of well-known brands. ... Pick Younger Wines. ... Look for Medals. ... Look for information on the producer. ... Shop Store Brands. ... Try different labels of wines you enjoy.More items...•

Which state has the highest alcohol tax?

WashingtonWashington has the highest spirits tax in the United States at $33.22 per gallon. This is over $10 more than the second-highest tax in the state of Oregon at $21.95. Following these two states is Virginia with $19.89, Alabama with $19.11, and Utah with $15.92.

Are liquor prices going up in 2022?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for alcoholic beverages are 589.53% higher in 2022 versus 1952 (a $58.95 difference in value). The current national average price is $1.68 for "Malt beverages, all types, all sizes, any origin, per 16 oz.

How many shots are in a 60 of vodka?

That results in about 16 shots of liquor, and if it's the base spirit (such as vodka, tequila, or whiskey), you can generally expect to make 16 cocktails from one bottle. However, liquor bottles come in many sizes, and drink recipes don't use a conventional 1 1/2-ounce shot of every liquor.

How much does a bottle of Jack Daniels cost?

Jack Daniel's bottle sizes and pricesBottleSizePrice (USD)Gentleman Jack750ml$30Jack Daniel's Rye Whiskey1 liter$40Jack Daniel's Green Label750ml$100Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey750ml$352 more rows•Feb 3, 2022

What is a good bar cost percentage?

between 18% and 24%You might be asking yourself: What is a good liquor cost percentage? In general, most bars and restaurants should strive for a pour cost between 18% and 24%. The average bar has a pour cost of 20%, indicating that every dollar of beverage sales generated costs the business 20 cents.

What alcohol is sold at Costco?

That's right! Costco's store brand includes all kinds of spirits: vodka, scotch, whiskey, bourbon, rum, tequila and gin. You can even find Kirkland 100-calorie boozy ice pops that are perfect for pool parties.

Is liquor cheaper in NY or PA?

Average prices for spirits were lower in Ohio, Delaware, and Maryland, but higher in West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Whether prices in comparison states were higher or lower than Pennsylvania generally transcended price categories.

Is alcohol cheaper in PA or NJ?

While alcohol is cheaper in New Jersey, you also have to factor in the cost of gas (though you can fill up with cheaper Jersey gas), wear on your car (or PhillyCarShare rental), travel time, et cetera.

Are liquor prices regulated in Michigan?

"The prices are not set by the Liquor Control Commission, per say. It is set essentially by state law." According to Deloney, when the state buys a bottle of spirits from a vendor, it adds three taxes of 4% each and those dollars go into a variety of funds within the state government.

Is liquor cheaper in Oregon or Washington?

A study by the foundation shows Washington state has a sizeable lead on the rest of the states with an excise tax rate on distilled spirits of $33.22 per gallon, followed by Oregon ($21.95), Virginia ($19.93), Alabama ($19.89), and Utah ($15.92).

Who controls the booze business?

The booze business is highly controlled by the wholesalers, who spend a great deal of money greasing the state legislatures to keep things that way. As far as I am aware, the booze business is the only industry in America that operates this way.

What is the ABV of beer in Oklahoma?

Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Montana, New Hamphsire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, and West Virginia limit grocery stores from selling beer with ABV ranging from 12–16% (depending on each state). In Oklahoma beer needs to be under 9% to be purchased at a grocery store, under 5% in Mississippi, and less than 3.2% in Utah.

How much is Rodney Strong Sonoma wine?

Prices around the Central Texas area can vary between $10 and $20 for a bottle, and oftentimes can vary in the same store from week to week.

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Does beer have an ABV limit?

That depends where you are. Some US states have ABV limits for beer sold at grocery stores .

Can you buy Budweiser from a wholesaler?

Virtually all beer, wine and spirits wholesalers have monopolies on the products they carry. Any liquor store owner can only buy Bud weiser, Yellow Tail or Jack Daniels from the one wholesaler who has the monopoly on that brand granted by his state liquor board.

Do liquor stores outperform supermarkets?

As somebody who's proud to have a family business in both physical retail and online, not only will online always outperform physical retail, but within physical retail, liquor stores will almost always outperform supermarkets, which are usually 20-40% even higher than superstore liquor shops.

Why do you choose canned beer over bottled beer?

For this reason, if you are going to take a risk on a potentially old beer, choose canned over bottled beer because the can keeps out more light. If you hate canned beer, select beer in a dark brown bottle, rather than in a green bottle, or worse yet, a clear bottle.

What is Everclear alcohol?

If you've gone to college (or even just been through your early 20s), you've probably heard of Everclear. It's grain alcohol — basically moonshine without that ceramic jug. Many people say they can't taste anything except the burn. Some people say they don't remember much at all after a night with this potent substance.

What is the worst beer in the world?

Natural Light, or "Natty Light" as it's called by many people, is often ranked as the worst beer in the world. It absolutely has no business being in your grocery cart under any circumstances. We understand if you are trying to cut calories or save a few bucks, but Natty Light really isn't the answer. This beer has the aroma of corn on the cob left in a musty basement. Worse yet, it tastes like corn water — yes, the water that packs canned corn.

What was the first beer launched into space?

To its credit, Natty Light does have a claim to fame. It was the first beer launched into space. Two Natty Light fans built a spacecraft (well, a Styrofoam cooler dubbed the Aluminum Fullcan) complete with a video camera and tracking device. The craft reached an altitude of over 90,000 feet. Not quite outerspace, but close enough.

How long does IPA stay fresh?

Try to decipher the date codes and figure out when it was brewed or bottled, if you can. Typically, IPAs will taste fresh in the first three months after bottling , and there's a chance it has been sitting your grocery store shelf for longer than that. Another problem is many big box grocery chains store beer at room temperature (you've seen those big stacks of beer in the middle of the aisles, right?). This is a big no-no for IPAs. In order for them to stay fresh and flavorful, IPAs need to be kept cold.

What does New Amsterdam taste like?

A commenter on The Gin is In wrote, "New Amsterdam tastes like someone dissolved orange-flavored children's aspirin in vodka." Exactly! That's a perfect description of what it tastes like.

Do grocery stores sell alcohol?

Grocery stores in some states sell every kind of alcohol possible. Others restrict sales to just beer and wine. Some grocery stores around the country have even added wine bars and beer gardens right in the stores. These grocery store locations reportedly get more traffic since the addition of the bars, but it's unclear whether they also actually get more liquor and grocery sales from their aisles too.

Which stores have the best alcohol?

Basically, Trader Joe’s and Costco seem to offer you the best priced, best quality alcohol – though they just might not be the brand name products you’re used to.

How much is Skyy vodka?

Bottle of Skyy Vodka (750mL): $12.99 per bottle (with a Safeway Club Card) and $19.99 per bottle (with out a Safeway Club Card)

Does Costco require a membership?

Costco. If nothing else, Costco wins for the sheer range and variety of alcohol it offers. However, Costco does require a membership and most products are for buying in bulk. If you aren’t buying for longterm use or a party, I would not recommend Costco.

Is Trader Joe's good?

Trader Joe’s offers some of the best selections for low-priced, good quality hard alcohol, beer, and wine. Not only are the prices completely reasonable, the quality of the lower-priced items can hold their own against higher priced, name-brand bottles.

Does Costco have the best price per bottle?

Costco offers the best price per bottle, but they’ll make you purchase a high volume of the product which will increase the price. Costco alcohol products, especially hard liquor, will last due to their size, so in the long run, they are a pretty great deal.

When did duty free shops open in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam then opened a duty-free shop in 1957, and the concept made it to the U.S. in 1962 — from which point on we’ve been blessed with them as an airport fixture.

Can you pay for Toblerone with a credit card?

Yeah — just be sure you convert the currency the right way, pay for things with a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and shop around at the different stores if you can (or check their prices online). Of course, it helps to know what that item costs where you’re going, or at least what it costs when served on an airplane. Although if what you’re really craving is a giant triangular yardstick of Toblerone, then say no more — you’ve come to the right place indeed.

Can you bring alcohol on a plane?

Yes, it can happen. American rules state that a U.S. resident can return to the country with up to $800 of stuff bought overseas, as long as it’s for personal use. (And you’ll have to declare any amount of alcohol over a liter.) But if you’re traveling as part of a multi-stop journey throughout different countries, beware that you’re subject to the local laws of the land, like the size limit of liquids you can bring onto a plane — which for most journeys isn’t an issue, since duty-free stores sell alcohol and bottles of cologne on the other side of security. But if you’re skipping around airports on a complicated itinerary and the local authorities find a large bottle on you, they may just exercise whatever power they have, whether it’s actually legal or extrajudicial.

Are there deals to be had in these blindingly bright stores, then?

They found that while duty-free isn’t necessarily a good deal, especially once you factor in currency exchange rates, there are serious deals to be had at specific airports. Many stores show their prices online, by the way, so there’s plenty of transparency in the market (and there’s also this website). Still, prices can vary wildly — e.g., Jack Daniels is 30 percent more at a duty-free shop in London’s airport than at one in Madrid.

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