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OT: Buying booze at Giant Eagle

USN_Panther

USN_Panther

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When I left the US 11+ years ago, you really couldn't buy beer in grocery stores in PA. Just came back from the Giant Eagle, and there is a bar with happy hour and bingo inside the store. That just blew my mind. What a country!

I did encounter difficulty buying a bottle of wine. 100% ID. Really no problem. I'm 54. Clerk wants to scan my ID. They wouldn't accept my NZ driver license. Said I needed to get a PA driver license. I'm like "Wut?" They got the manager who asked me if I had my passport. I replied "Really? Do you take your passport to the grocery store?" I won the war of attrition, and they gave up and let me buy the wine. I thought that was really odd. Drinking age in NZ is 18, so they really hardly card anybody ever.

I get following the rules and procedures. Maybe they're tightening up on things so West Virginians can't buy booze for the game. Perhaps that is a good thing!
 
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Giant Eagles been very strict since they started. Guessing they just don’t wanna lose their license.

The laws in PA were loosened which is why you see alcohol there, but some of them are still stupid. You can only buy 192 oz in a transaction in a place like giant eagle. You can buy it walk it to your car and buy another 192. And so on. But you can’t buy more than that in one transaction. Regular beer distributor you can buy however much you want. Crazy.
 
USN_Panther said:
When I left the US 11+ years ago, you really couldn't buy beer in grocery stores in PA. Just came back from the Giant Eagle, and there is a bar with happy hour and bingo inside the store. That just blew my mind. What a country!

I did encounter difficulty buying a bottle of wine. 100% ID. Really no problem. I'm 54. Clerk wants to scan my ID. They wouldn't accept my NZ driver license. Said I needed to get a PA driver license. I'm like "Wut?" They got the manager who asked me if I had my passport. I replied "Really? Do you take your passport to the grocery store?" I won the war of attrition, and they gave up and let me buy the wine. I thought that was really odd. Drinking age in NZ is 18, so they really hardly card anybody ever.

I get following the rules and procedures. Maybe they're tightening up on things so West Virginians can't buy booze for the game. Perhaps that is a good thing!
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure they are strict with anyone who attempts to buy Wild Irish Rose.
 
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USN_Panther said:
When I left the US 11+ years ago, you really couldn't buy beer in grocery stores in PA. Just came back from the Giant Eagle, and there is a bar with happy hour and bingo inside the store. That just blew my mind. What a country!

I did encounter difficulty buying a bottle of wine. 100% ID. Really no problem. I'm 54. Clerk wants to scan my ID. They wouldn't accept my NZ driver license. Said I needed to get a PA driver license. I'm like "Wut?" They got the manager who asked me if I had my passport. I replied "Really? Do you take your passport to the grocery store?" I won the war of attrition, and they gave up and let me buy the wine. I thought that was really odd. Drinking age in NZ is 18, so they really hardly card anybody ever.

I get following the rules and procedures. Maybe they're tightening up on things so West Virginians can't buy booze for the game. Perhaps that is a good thing!
Click to expand...
Are you a LCB agent? PA sucks!
 
USN_Panther said:
Many of the fine wines are moving away from cork.
Click to expand...
Depends on the wine. Screw caps are better for wines that you want sealed. Cork will breath over time and is better for bolder wines you want to age. People immediately think screw top means bad or cheap, which isn't necessarily the case.

Now back to Giant Eagle. Can't stand their Nazi stance on having your license. Happened to me a few times when grocery shopping and wander over to check out their craft selection. Go to by a 4 or six pack and don't have my license.
 
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Gunga_Galunga said:
Depends on the wine. Screw caps are better for wines that you want sealed. Cork will breath over time and is better for bolder wines you want to age. People immediately think screw top means bad or cheap, which is necessarily the case.

Now back to Giant Eagle. Can't stand their Nazi stance on having your license. Happened to me a few times when grocery shopping and wander over to check out their craft selection. Go to by a 4 or six pack and don't have my license.
Click to expand...
My wife is spoiled with us living close to wine country in NZ. Central Otago and more specific the Gibbston area near Queenstown has fantasic conditions for pinot noir.

Giant Eagle can't compete with that. Although bingo for Happy Hour at the bar inside the grocery store comes close.
 
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Gunga_Galunga said:
Now back to Giant Eagle. Can't stand their Nazi stance on having your license. Happened to me a few times when grocery shopping and wander over to check out their craft selection. Go to by a 4 or six pack and don't have my license.
Click to expand...


Yeah, they require a license for every transaction, and have since they were first allowed to sell it. It's a really dumb policy, but I guarantee that it makes the lawyers happy.

Back when we had Penguins season tickets at the Civic Arena they changed the policy there to the same thing. Card everyone every time. No card, no beer. So the first game after they announce the change we are the second people in line at our regular concession stand. The first guy in line is at least 60 years old, and he doesn't have his drivers license. And they won't sell him a beer. One of the ladies kind of whispers under her breath that they would have, but their boss is standing right over there and they have been told that if they do not card everyone they could get fired. And they didn't want to get fired.

So we say to the guy, hey, what are you drinking. He tells us what he wanted. And we say go stand over along the wall over there and we'll buy you one and bring it over. About the dumbest thing ever that we needed to do that.
 
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Joe the Panther Fan said:
Yeah, they require a license for every transaction, and have since they were first allowed to sell it. It's a really dumb policy, but I guarantee that it makes the lawyers happy.

Back when we had Penguins season tickets at the Civic Arena they changed the policy there to the same thing. Card everyone every time. No card, no beer. So the first game after they announce the change we are the second people in line at our regular concession stand. The first guy in line is at least 60 years old, and he doesn't have his drivers license. And they won't sell him a beer. One of the ladies kind of whispers under her breath that they would have, but their boss is standing right over there and they have been told that if they do not card everyone they could get fired. And they didn't want to get fired.

So we say to the guy, hey, what are you drinking. He tells us what he wanted. And we say go stand over along the wall over there and we'll buy you one and bring it over. About the dumbest thing ever that we needed to do that.
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Shouldn't the lawyers be more concerned about the people who showed their drivers license and sat down and played bingo during happy hour and actually consumed a few drinks on the premises then probably drove away?
 
USN_Panther said:
Shouldn't the lawyers be more concerned about the people who showed their drivers license and sat down and played bingo during happy hour and actually consumed a few drinks on the premises then probably drove
Click to expand...
Do people really sit and drink at places like Giant Eagle or Sheetz?
 
Joe the Panther Fan said:
That's a different set of lawyers.
Click to expand...
TBF, my wife underwent extreme scrutiny in NZ to buy spraypaint at the big box hardware store (Mitre10, which pretty much looks like Home Depot). They checked her ID, and interrogated her as to her intentions for said spraypaint. They asked her "What will you be doing with this spraypaint?" And she had to respond to several different managers that she would be "Painting shit". Her answers were deemed correct and she was allowed to purchase spray paint.
 
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jtownknowitall said:
Do people really sit and drink at places like Giant Eagle or Sheetz?
Click to expand...
Whole foods in Wexford has a pub.

348s.jpg
 
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USN_Panther said:
I was referring to Giant Eagle in Bethel Park. They call it Market something or other, but it is just a damn old Big Bird, except with a pub.
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Understood, was just reply to Johnstown since they're still in the stone ages. GE Market District copied the Whole Foods gig. That Wexford Pub at Whole Foods gets a lot of traffic.
 
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I got carded at Heinz Field last year at a Pitt game by a girl that couldn't have been more than 20 yrs old. I was 63. I gave her a generous tip.
 
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Gunga_Galunga said:
Understood, was just reply to Johnstown since they're still in the stone ages. GE Market District copied the Whole Foods gig. That Wexford Pub at Whole Foods gets a lot of traffic.
Click to expand...
Yeah nah. Knew that. Was just saying it's not an isolated thing. That really did surprise me coming back. We were questioning whether PA sold beer and wine in grocery stores yet, and saw the sign outside saying they did, and saw a pub and just blew our minds a bit. Having lived in many places while in the Navy, this wasn't something unusual in the 90s everywhere but PA. But the pub in the grocery is new level. We applaud PA for this.
We forgot to get cream. I will volunteer to go get some and come back a few hours later. Add a sports book, and men will always do the shopping.
 
Gunga_Galunga said:
Depends on the wine. Screw caps are better for wines that you want sealed. Cork will breath over time and is better for bolder wines you want to age. People immediately think screw top means bad or cheap, which isn't necessarily the case.

Now back to Giant Eagle. Can't stand their Nazi stance on having your license. Happened to me a few times when grocery shopping and wander over to check out their craft selection. Go to by a 4 or six pack and don't have my license.
Click to expand...
Have you ever had a wine that was "corked". Oxygen in the bottle can cause the wine to go bad.
 
PA's liquor laws are light years ahead of what they were 20 years ago, when they were Draconian. But they are still just difficult enough in order to protect the PLCB Union, which is a strong lobby and beer distributors. I mean that is the only reason why it is exists like it does now. WV and Ohio Giant Eagles, there are actually real liquor sales inside the store aside from beer and wine.
 
pbrad said:
Have you ever had a wine that was "corked". Oxygen in the bottle can cause the wine to go bad.
Click to expand...
Being that I've bottled my own in the past with both real and synthetic corks, I'd say I have. Yes, oxygen and wine aren't a good combo.

However, a cork is 80 to 90 percent air, which obviously contains oxygen. This oxygen is released into the bottle slowly over time via diffusion, and helps the ageing of some wines. Basically, wines that are meant to be aged typically mature better with cork. Think dark reds. Wines to be drunk young aren't any better using corks.

It's not outside letting air travel freely through the cork. There are even screw tops that try to mimic this.
 
USN_Panther said:
When I left the US 11+ years ago, you really couldn't buy beer in grocery stores in PA. Just came back from the Giant Eagle, and there is a bar with happy hour and bingo inside the store. That just blew my mind. What a country!

I did encounter difficulty buying a bottle of wine. 100% ID. Really no problem. I'm 54. Clerk wants to scan my ID. They wouldn't accept my NZ driver license. Said I needed to get a PA driver license. I'm like "Wut?" They got the manager who asked me if I had my passport. I replied "Really? Do you take your passport to the grocery store?" I won the war of attrition, and they gave up and let me buy the wine. I thought that was really odd. Drinking age in NZ is 18, so they really hardly card anybody ever.

I get following the rules and procedures. Maybe they're tightening up on things so West Virginians can't buy booze for the game. Perhaps that is a good thing!
Click to expand...
most places scan your ID, even the coens gas station does. they dont care how old you look, i know giant eagle is pretty strict too. i tried to buy beer a few years ago and noticed my DL expired. they said no.

Most of these businesses are set up where they have to scan a valid state ID/License just to cover themselves. im surprised giant eagle gave in to be honest.
 
Zeldas Open Roof said:
most places scan your ID, even the coens gas station does. they dont care how old you look, i know giant eagle is pretty strict too. i tried to buy beer a few years ago and noticed my DL expired. they said no.

Most of these businesses are set up where they have to scan a valid state ID/License just to cover themselves. im surprised giant eagle gave in to be honest.
Click to expand...
Yeah
The state stores are more lenient , even most beer distributors .
But yeah GE and sheetz aren’t messing around.
In this backwards ass state .
I miss picking up a few cases at Food Lion in North Carolina
 
PittPharm2002 said:
Yeah
The state stores are more lenient , even most beer distributors .
But yeah GE and sheetz aren’t messing around.
In this backwards ass state .
I miss picking up a few cases at Food Lion in North Carolina
Click to expand...
i never cared much about this to be honest. grocery shopping and picking up beer never was one and the same for me. I just never understood why people couldnt just go to a beer distributor, like it was this extra burden.

I do like that many gas stations in PA sell "roadies" though, if you want one or two cans of beer for the road, very easy to pick up a few for the ride.. That's progress.
 
Zeldas Open Roof said:
i never cared much about this to be honest. grocery shopping and picking up beer never was one and the same for me. I just never understood why people couldnt just go to a beer distributor, like it was this extra burden.

I do like that many gas stations in PA sell "roadies" though, if you want one or two cans of beer for the road, very easy to pick up a few for the ride.. That's progress.
Click to expand...
Because it’s stupid .
Just like it’s stupid beer and wine has a separate register

I mean even the Bible Belt gets that if you’re legal to buy you can buy it anywhere.
Of course you can buy liquor in grocery stores in actually progressive states

Beer distributors don’t need to exist except maybe kegs
It’s only still a thing because their lobby is too strong in pa
 
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PittPharm2002 said:
Because it’s stupid .
Just like it’s stupid beer and wine has a separate register

I mean even the Bible Belt gets that if you’re legal to buy you can buy it anywhere.
Of course you can buy liquor in grocery stores in actually progressive states

Beer distributors don’t need to exist except maybe kegs
It’s only still a thing because their lobby is too strong in pa
Click to expand...
I lived in South Cackalacky in the mid to late 90's. And while they had some crazy laws, it was still much more accessible and sensible than PA is today. We are taking that "Quaker" heritage a bit to literal, but it is no doubt because the lobbyists and unions around distributors and the PLCB.
 
I live in Michigan and Kroger, Meijer, Costco, CVS or any chain retailer will scan your ID when purchasing alcohol. The only real pain in the ass regulation is the above stores can't sell before noon on Sunday's, there's usually people lingering around the registers late Sunday morning waiting for the clock to hit 12:OOPM.
 
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happjack said:
I live in Michigan and Kroger, Meijer, Costco, CVS or any chain retailer will scan your ID when purchasing alcohol. The only real pain in the ass regulation is the above stores can't sell before noon on Sunday's, there's usually people lingering around the registers late Sunday morning waiting for the clock to hit 12:OOPM.
Click to expand...
I love it that pharmacies sell alcohol and cigarettes.
What a country!
 
USN_Panther said:
When I left the US 11+ years ago, you really couldn't buy beer in grocery stores in PA. Just came back from the Giant Eagle, and there is a bar with happy hour and bingo inside the store. That just blew my mind. What a country!

I did encounter difficulty buying a bottle of wine. 100% ID. Really no problem. I'm 54. Clerk wants to scan my ID. They wouldn't accept my NZ driver license. Said I needed to get a PA driver license. I'm like "Wut?" They got the manager who asked me if I had my passport. I replied "Really? Do you take your passport to the grocery store?" I won the war of attrition, and they gave up and let me buy the wine. I thought that was really odd. Drinking age in NZ is 18, so they really hardly card anybody ever.

I get following the rules and procedures. Maybe they're tightening up on things so West Virginians can't buy booze for the game. Perhaps that is a good thing!
Click to expand...
Nah, it was part of what the grocery stores had to agree to in order to sell booze here.

Those store level workers have been told they are dead meat if they don't run your ID, cause corporate will rain heal on them if they lose their liscense.
 
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