Beer, Wine and Spirits Stack Exchange
Beer, Wine and Spirits Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [laws]

Law is a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior.

26 questions
18
votes
3 answers

What is the German Beer Purity Law?

I see some US beers advertising that they brew according to the "German Beer Purity Law." What is that, and is it still relevant today?
Fishtoaster
  • 4,236
  • 2
  • 21
  • 49
14
votes
2 answers

Why are half gallon growlers illegal in Florida?

Florida has a strange bottling law that allows growlers in 32 oz and 128 oz sizes but not 64 oz. People have tried to get the law changed but so far it's failed. How did the 64 oz size come to be illegal and what is the rationale for not legalizing…
crownjewel82
  • 1,989
  • 2
  • 17
  • 24
11
votes
2 answers

What are the specific laws regarding growler fills in Massachusetts?

I'm headed up to Boston next weekend for an event, and was planning to take up a few empty (or maybe full!) growlers to fill with interesting and delicious things from some of the local breweries up in the area. However, I've heard that MA has some…
LessPop_MoreFizz
  • 2,018
  • 1
  • 13
  • 28
9
votes
1 answer

Why do corking fees exist?

I've been to multiple combination bars/beer stores, where you can either buy bottles to go, or drink them on premises. If you buy a bottle to go, it costs the base price, but if you buy one to drink there, you have to pay an additional "corking"…
Danalog
  • 547
  • 1
  • 5
  • 14
9
votes
5 answers

Why is beer regulated differently than other types of alcohol?

In the US there are tons of rules about alcohol that vary widely from state to state and at the federal level. For example you can brew your own beer in most states but you have to have a license for liquor. Similarly, wine tastings are usually OK…
crownjewel82
  • 1,989
  • 2
  • 17
  • 24
9
votes
3 answers

Why is beer in Czech Republic so cheap?

I recently traveled to Prague where beer was extremely cheap, usually around $1-$2 USD in supermarkets for 16 oz. cans. Even brands like Heineken and Stella were this cheap. What are the main factors for this?
timbucktieu
  • 101
  • 1
  • 5
8
votes
1 answer

In the United States, is a beer required to state ABV on the bottle/label?

I recently purchased a Dogfish Head World Wide Stout. I bought it on a whim because 1. I was looking for a stout, and 2. I typically enjoy Dogfish Head. Only after I got home and looked it up did I realize it has an ABV of roughly 18%. Then I…
Friendly King
  • 415
  • 2
  • 4
  • 8
8
votes
1 answer

Can a brewery in California fill any growler?

There has been some confusion around the laws regarding "refillable containers" in California. At times, I have been told that a brewery cannot refill another brewery's growler. At other times, I have been told that a brewery may (or by their…
object88
  • 2,808
  • 18
  • 31
8
votes
1 answer

Do open container laws in the U.S. apply to non-alcoholic beers?

Do open container laws in the U.S. apply to non-alcoholic beers? (Open container laws do vary from state to state but there may be a general consensus on definitions, e.g. the definition of "an alcoholic beverage." Focusing on the most populous…
Andrew Cheong
  • 3,324
  • 1
  • 21
  • 50
7
votes
1 answer

Are growlers considered open containers?

My local brewery fills growlers and just adds a twist-off cap to the top. They do not place any kind of seal or sticker on the cap to prove it hasn't been opened. So if I get pulled over for whatever reason and the cop sees the growler, in say, the…
CKrug
  • 547
  • 1
  • 3
  • 11
7
votes
2 answers

How does the PA liquor control board decide which beers can be sold in the state?

I live in Pennsylvania, where the folks in charge cling desperately to the last vestiges of Prohibition, with a protection racket on the side. What this means is that the state heavily regulates alcohol import and distribution. Wine and hard…
Monica Cellio
  • 2,545
  • 2
  • 22
  • 38
7
votes
1 answer

Why is Sam Adam's high ABV beer illegal to sell in several US states?

Not even compared to absinth, even SKYY vodka has a higher ABV and we well that everywhere. The end result is a 28 percent alcohol-by-volume beer that's void of any carbonation. According to Forbes, Utopias is illegal to sell in 11 states because…
Shan Wu
  • 71
  • 1
6
votes
5 answers

Why do some grocery stores in Colorado have regular beer and liquor but some only sell 3.2% beer?

I live in Denver, Colorado and I have noticed many grocery stores will have full a liquor selection and normal alcohol content beer, but others will only sell 3.2% beer and no liquor. This goes even for the same chain of stores. For example,…
user10473
  • 63
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
6
votes
1 answer

Why are spirits typically 40% ABV?

I live in France. I've found that at least cheaper (supermarket) spirits are almost always exactly 40% ABV. You can find stronger if you buy more niche or expensive alcohols like Chartreuse, but the vast majority seems to be precisely 40, unlike say…
Jack M
  • 163
  • 4
6
votes
3 answers

What are reasons to not sell alcohol free beer to minors?

In The Netherlands, the law also prevents selling alcohol free beer to minors. What can be reasons for this? Is alcohol free beer also addictive, and does it therefore attract minors to much to alcoholic beer? Or does alcohol free beer contain a…
user5232
1
2