I drink a lot of beer. I would probably drink even more beer if it didn’t cost so much. ( I drink Sam Adams which goes for about $15 - $17 per 12 pack when it’s not on sale). So can I buy it from a distributor like the retail stores do? I live in Chicago.
If you can provide a tax ID#, have a license to sell, and can meet minimum orders probably
Yeah, I was afraid that would be the answer. Bummer. 
It’s easy to buy kegs of lots of beers and that is normally the cheapest way to get it.
BTW, even if you could, you wouldn’t save that much. The margin on beer is REALLY small. You’d probably save $2 to $4 on a case of SA. And yes, they would require a Tax ID and a liquor license to purchase from them. Your better off just asking around at a couple of store and seeing if anyone will give you a break on a case. If you tend to be a regular customer buying one or two twelve packs on a regular bases, I could see them giving you between 50¢ and $1 off per 12 pack.
Oh and yeah, think about getting a kegorator and buying quarter barrels, much cheaper then all that glass.
In Tennessee, it would be illegal for a distributor to sell directly to a consumer.
Where on Earth is Sam Adams $15-17 a twelve pack? Around here a six-pack goes for about $6.
nevermind.
Sales tax + state excise taxes + state distribution could easily add a few dollars to the price.
On the other hand, until very recently, the ONLY place you could buy beer outside of a bar in Pennsylvania was from a distributor. (It’s POSSIBLE that you could buy it at a state store, too, but I don’t think the state stores sell beer, only wine and liquor.)
Yeah, the question made me scratch my head for a minute, since my parents used to buy beer from the distributor up the street all the time. Then I remembered that you can’t use PA liquor laws as any sort of guide for normal people. 
Ain’t that the truth…
That has its pros and cons - the distributors are a product of archaic and inconvenient laws, make it impossible to buy small quantities of beer cheaply or conveniently, and require a separate stop at a store to round out the whole cookout.
OTOH, case prices in Pennsylvania are pretty cheap, many distributors have drive through service, and the owners of these businesses are generally decent people with established ties to their communities.
Given half a chance I’d scrap the system and allow supermarkets to sell beer - but I wouldn’t be surprised to see distributors in many areas hold on because of their service and ability to hold the line on price. Some of these guys move massive quantities of beer.
NC has state run liquor stores but beer and wine are sold in supermarkets here.
Same system in Virginia. I’d prefer private liquor stores but that would never fly here for many reasons - I’m just glad I can get beer at the Safeway.
And I’m pretty sure that Cook County (location of Chicago) adds on some extra tax - above the city/county sales tax - for beer; they definitely do for soda.
Sheetz has had a several-year battle to be allowed to sell beer in their flagship stores. Apparently, they got shut down for the final time by the PA Supreme Court in June, because they don’t allow the beer to be drunk in the store (i.e., the beer distributors’ association greased some palms, probably).
Here is a really weird thing about NC - you can’t go into a state run liquor store if you are 18,19 or 20. But younger kids can go in with their parents.
My only guess for this odd policy is they are afraid a 18-20 year old will try to pass as 21.
That is steep. I got it in Milwaukee on sale during the fourth for $9.99 marked down from $11.49.
Cook county must have some crazy add on taxes.
Last time I checked, a six-pack of Sam Adams was about $8.00 (when not on sale) at the grocery store near my home. I’m not sure what taxes, fees, duties, royalties, deposits, or tributes are included in that price.
This is in California, where you can buy beer, wine, and even hard liquor in grocery stores. It’s probably not the cheapest place for something like Sam Adams, but the convenience is definitely worth something to me. Usually they have some beer or another on sale for about $6 per six-pack, and unless I have a specific hankerin’ that’s what I buy.