Comments on: It'd Probably Work Better If It Were Run By Drunkards

By: Eeyore

Eeyore — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 00:27:32 +0000

Just about the only time you can reliably buy armagnac in Pennsylvania is in the lead-up to Xmas. Try going to the premium stores in the next few weeks and you might have better luck. Careful though, if you go too early they won’t have put it out yet, and if you go too late they will have sold out of the actual good stuff.

By: peterb

peterb — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 21:09:47 +0000

Click on “Industry Partners” and then “Product Catalog”

By: Amos the Poker Cat

Amos the Poker Cat — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 21:02:34 +0000

OK, so I am looking at the PLCB web site, searching the online catalog. I can search for store locations, but I can not figure out how to check inventory? Naturally, I am not a registered user.

By: Will C

Will C — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 00:26:48 +0000

Well, I’m in Houston, America’s 4th largest hinterland (GO ASTROS!) and the way it works in most of Texas is grocery stores, gas stations etc can sell beer, wine, fortified wine, and those weird liquor-themed party drinks, up to 40 proof (I think) but no liquor at all. The grocers can sell until 1am, any day (except Sunday, maybe, and in a nod to the past, can’t sell any fortified wine on Sunday, which makes us just that much more moral).

Liquor stores are a different animal, and can sell any alcoholic beverage, and other foods and so forth if they choose, but must close by 9pm Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday, period.

None of these, however, are state owned or controlled (thank God).

By: Amos the Poker Cat

Amos the Poker Cat — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 22:33:08 +0000

Here, here, Will C. Exactly the point I was going to make. What hinterland state is that closing at 9pm? Most PLCB places close around then. Although early in the week, lots close at 7pm!

When I am in PA, I am about 20 minutes from the Ohio border, so I can actually go into a grocery store, and buy wine like a hu-man-bean. Although, Ohio has a 80 proof limit on what you can buy at a grocery store. PeterB, you just have to budget and buy “X” months worth of spirits next time you are out of town.

Sorry, LA green girl, I don’t think you have convinced a lot of people to get on the icky fair trade bean band wagon. I still want something tasty and cheaper, and not Starbucks.

By: peterb

peterb — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 22:14:59 +0000

In an “amusing” coda to this story, the State’s online inventory system claims there are 3 bottles of Montesquio armagnac at the store I was in.

So, PLCB, once again: screw you.

By: Will C

Will C — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 20:48:39 +0000

By God, that’s horrible! Everytime I’ve been to a state-controlled liquor store state I’ve found it appalling, and expensive. Appallingly expensive, but with plenty to buy, if all you want to buy is Cuervo, or Popov vodka or some such.

I could send you a photo from the Cognac/Armangnac AISLE of the big liquor/wine/gourmet food store in my hinterland metropolis, but that probably wouldn’t be nice. And yeah, the employees know just where it is, and have a few suggestions to offer too. Apparently when you give people a choice, they like it. Weird. Now if I could go in past 9pm, we’d really be getting somewhere…

It’s hard to fathom where states think they derirved the right to control alcohol sales but they sure cling to that power. And what a horrible response to the Supreme Court “take your pick” decision on wine shipment.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 15:50:55 +0000

My favorite is Employee Pinball.

“I don’t know – Fred might, over there.”

“I don’t know – Sally might, over there.”

“I think so, but I’m not sure. Bill might know, over there.”

By: Julie Watt

Julie Watt — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 14:29:40 +0000

Down with the PALCB! Get your pitchforks, folks!

By: daw

daw — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 08:37:06 +0000

This reminds me of my favorite PLCB story ever, which occurred when there was a little pilot program to have PLCB stores open for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon. One of the test stores was on the South Side, and it was picketed by activists carrying signs about the lord’s day and so on.

The Post-Gazette interviewed these picketers, and they turned out actually to be PLCB employees.

Most revealingly, one of them said “We’re supposed to be the liquor CONTROL board. Giving liquor to anyone any time they want willy nilly, that’s not control, that’s anarchy!”

I think that should be the corporate slogan, framed over every door.