# 16 People On Things They Couldn’t Believe About America Until They Moved Here **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954 "2013-11-15T01:24:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/161 "2013-11-19T19:23:57Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > And of course New Mexico was one of the last states to get rid of the drive-thru liquor stores. Really…we still have them here in Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/162 "2013-11-19T19:26:19Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > In Minnesota, in most parks alcohol is illegal. However, in my county you are allowed to have beer and wine in designated picnic areas as long as it isn’t in glass containers or in kegs (or ‘case lots’, so don’t be bringing large amounts). Or get a permit. If you get a permit for a wedding reception in a park (I did) you can serve beer and wine. You need a permit, and you need to pay a police officer. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/163 "2013-11-19T20:08:49Z")
Even in America we can’t believe some of the things we see in this country. For me, a shocker was when I saw my first state run liquor store (Maine, I think. Definitely somewhere in New England), an entity which apparently exists in [18 states.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage_control_state) The idea that you have to buy your liquor from the government is, imho, quite disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/164 "2013-11-19T20:18:55Z")
We have municipal liquor stores, but not state ones. In the municipalities that have them, some require all other establishments in the municipality to buy their liquor through the municipal store. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/165 "2013-11-19T21:12:55Z")
I’ve lived my whole life in Virginia, where hard liquor is sold only in state ABC stores, so the first time I saw a privately-owned liquor store in DC I thought _that_ was weird! ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/166 "2013-11-19T21:21:06Z")
> [@Neidhart](#): > > I’ve lived my whole life in Virginia, where hard liquor is sold only in state ABC stores, so the first time I saw a privately-owned liquor store in DC I thought _that_ was weird! Hey, when I moved to Virginia from Pennsylvania, I was just happy to finally be in a state where you can buy beer and wine in grocery stores. Pennsylvania sure is uptight about their booze. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/167 "2013-11-19T21:29:43Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Even in America we can’t believe some of the things we see in this country. For me, a shocker was when I saw my first state run liquor store (Maine, I think. Definitely somewhere in New England), an entity which apparently exists in [18 states.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage_control_state) The idea that you have to buy your liquor from the government is, imho, quite disturbing. That was a bit of a culture shock, moving from California to Washington. Not that I drink often, but I do like alcohol. And I occasionally use it for cooking. Thankfully, that has changed up here. Sadly, we have some of the highest alcohol taxes in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/168 "2013-11-19T21:33:34Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > Hey, when I moved to Virginia from Pennsylvania, I was just happy to finally be in a state where you can buy beer and wine in grocery stores. > > Pennsylvania sure is uptight about their booze. You’re right about that. Beer is sold only by the case or keg in big stores but if you want a 6-pack (to go) you have to get that from a bar. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/169 "2013-11-19T21:34:22Z")
Not sure if anyone has mentioned various smoking laws. In some states it’s still legal in restaurants (but not many). It varies state by state, sometimes city by city. And that applies to other areas as well, such as parks. For example, it’s illegal to smoke at a rest area in Iowa. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/170 "2013-11-19T21:38:40Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > One of my favorite bits from that article was the guy from India saying that he was amazed how U.S. traffic managed to function smoothly without the intervention of traffic police. 😃 > > We (Americans) may bitch about traffic frequently, but apparently, it could be a lot worse! Yeah I’ve seen some [crazy videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM) of traffic in India. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/171 "2013-11-19T21:53:37Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Teenagers and young adults often believe that Americans are much more sexually promiscuous than they really are. Someone on another board told a story about an exchange student at her high school who came here mainly because he thought U.S. high schools were like nonstop orgies. He was quite disappointed. > > :rolleyes: Hollywood, maybe? I often see the implication that if a couple has early feelings of strong mutual attraction, they will presently head for the bedroom. No fourth date, third date or second date “rule” let alone a slow build-up of respect and trust. And chastity (or even limiting fooling-around) for people not married? _ **What’s that?** _ Well, okay, there was the remake of “Much Ado about Nothing” with the odd combination of modern buildings and dress with Shakespearean dialogue and mores. And age doesn’t seem to matter. * * * Orgies? I recall at least two mainstream films, plus one mainstream preview, with a man or young dude having two, three or even four wimmens in the sack at one time. While such films may not be nearly as common, there may have been enough to convince a youth that we Americans buck like funnies. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/172 "2013-11-19T22:29:30Z")
> [@Neidhart](#): > > I’ve lived my whole life in Virginia, where hard liquor is sold only in state ABC stores, so the first time I saw a privately-owned liquor store in DC I thought _that_ was weird! Isn’t there some state or county where all hard liquor has to be dispensed from those little 1 ounce bottles? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/173 "2013-11-19T23:09:25Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > The idea that you have to buy your liquor from the government is, imho, quite disturbing. There are still people alive who remember when you couldn’t buy liquor in this country at all. :eek: > [@Laggard](#): > > Isn’t there some state or county where all hard liquor has to be dispensed from those little 1 ounce bottles? Utah requires liquor licensees to use dispensers that dispense no more than 1.5 oz at a time. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/174 "2013-11-19T23:52:06Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Isn’t there some state or county where all hard liquor has to be dispensed from those little 1 ounce bottles? South Carolina used to do that, but I believe it’s changed within the last 5-10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/175 "2013-11-20T00:09:34Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Even in America we can’t believe some of the things we see in this country. For me, a shocker was when I saw my first state run liquor store (Maine, I think. Definitely somewhere in New England), an entity which apparently exists in [18 states.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage_control_state) The idea that you have to buy your liquor from the government is, imho, quite disturbing. I was surprised to see MD on the list, but it’s only a few counties, not the whole state. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/176 "2013-11-20T00:50:59Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > In Minnesota, in most parks alcohol is illegal. However, in my county you are allowed to have beer and wine in designated picnic areas as long as it isn’t in glass containers or in kegs (or ‘case lots’, so don’t be bringing large amounts). That reminds me. I finally went to Saratoga (the race course) for the first time this summer and was absolutely stunned by the amount of coolers and brought in alcohol. Heck, I was surprised that you could bring in alcohol to begin with. That and the sheer amount of families at the track. Oh, and another one is at the Big E. I am so used to having to go to a specific area to drink alcohol at a fair that every time I’m able to just walk around with a beer there I feel like I must be breaking the law somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/177 "2013-11-20T01:01:06Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > South Carolina used to do that, but I believe it’s changed within the last 5-10 years. That it has, in 2006; took them forever to get rid of those damn little things. Utah has the State liquor store system, ridiculous Zion Curtain laws and the like. But I can buy alcoholic cooking sherry off the shelf at WINCO grocery stores. (And of course, go on the Air Force base and get any liquor I want 24/7.) ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/178 "2013-11-20T20:23:46Z")
Yay Class Sixes! I also found out you got a 10% discount if you bought by the case! Hill AFB was never the same… ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/179 "2013-11-20T22:22:11Z")
Although I haven’t moved to the US, nor have any intentions of doing so, stuff I’ve picked up from this very board have sometimes gets my :dubious: activated. You guys have PUMPKIN IN A CAN?? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954/180 "2013-11-20T22:28:24Z")
Wait until you see the [whole canned chicken](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.seriouseats.com/images/20090430-cannedchicken.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/04/whole-chicken-in-a-can-taste-test.html&h=375&w=500&sz=45&tbnid=NozePIN2NhFc1M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__u_robqs0jpPe3AaxQn0cVh_mbJI=&docid=X67xjXg2SbSeoM&sa=X&ei=VjeNUrHbIe_lygH104GYCQ&ved=0CC0Q9QEwAQ). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/16-people-on-things-they-couldn-t-believe-about-america-until-they-moved-here/673954.md?page=10)