# Can I buy beer from the distributor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840 "2009-07-31T03:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840/41 "2009-08-02T14:08:43Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Methinks it’s tavern owners who are torqued that local businesses are losing out to chains, which are more convenient and who can sell beer less expensively. Around here the Tavern League is a powerful lobby (though they voluntarily took a dive on the ridiculous smoking ban that goes into effect next year:rolleyes: ) who has pushed through some equally ridiculous local ordinances regarding beer sales. One of them being that you can’t buy beer in a store after 9pm (which is contrary to state law that says midnight) but you can buy carry outs at a tavern up until midnight. These ordinances were pushed through under the guise of fighting drunk driving. This is a crock of shit, but it’s somehow been pushed through in several municipalities. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840/42 "2009-08-03T00:13:52Z")
Barely-relevant trivia question: What is a “'Sconni Run”? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840/43 "2009-08-03T00:40:08Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Barely-relevant trivia question: What is a “'Sconni Run”? If I had to make a complete (pulled out of my nether regions) guess, I would say a run to a Wisconsin (Sconni?) from a bordering state to either buy booze at a discount, or at a later hour than what your own state allows… ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840/44 "2009-08-03T01:43:03Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > If I had to make a complete (pulled out of my nether regions) guess, I would say a run to a Wisconsin (Sconni?) from a bordering state to either buy booze at a discount, or at a later hour than what your own state allows… AFAIK it originated back before the feds stuck their ugly nose in when we still had a drinking age of 18 and some of the surrounding states had 21. 18-20 year olds would run into Wisconsin to buy booze to take back home. This is also the basis for that line in the movie “Stripes”. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840/45 "2009-08-03T01:52:41Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > AFAIK it originated back before the feds stuck their ugly nose in when we still had a drinking age of 18 and some of the surrounding states had 21. 18-20 year olds would run into Wisconsin to buy booze to take back home. This is also the basis for that line in the movie “Stripes”. I’m not sure, but I think some of the surrounding states had 19 for beer. Still a year older than required in Wisconsin. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840/46 "2009-08-03T01:55:36Z")
I dont know what tipped me (I must have heard the term Sconni before somewhere) as I have only been to Wisconsin once, when I flew into Milwaukee to attend a weekend of music at Alpine Valley. By the way, of all the major US cities I have gone out for an evening of beers in, Milwaukee has got to be just about the cheapest (alongside New Orleans and Vegas); I was blown away at how inexpensive a drink at a bar was, even the most upscale joints… People in Wisconsin were also polite and friendly; it is a lovely part of the country. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840/47 "2009-08-03T01:56:13Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > If I had to make a complete (pulled out of my nether regions) guess, I would say a run to a Wisconsin (Sconni?) from a bordering state to either buy booze at a discount, or at a later hour than what your own state allows… Bingo. In the past, the drinking age was lower in Wisconsin than in Minnesota, but even today a 'sconni run is necessary on a Sunday or holiday (including the 4th of July) when no offsale is permitted in MN. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840/48 "2009-08-03T02:17:22Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Bingo. In the past, the drinking age was lower in Wisconsin than in Minnesota, but even today a 'sconni run is necessary on a Sunday or holiday (including the 4th of July) when no offsale is permitted in MN. Exactly the same situation for us here in Utah—Sundays, holidays there is a steady stream of people heading to the Wyoming border town of Evanston (about an hour and a half drive from Salt Lake City) to get thier booze. (Utah does sell 3.2 beer on Sundays, but nothing stronger) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-buy-beer-from-the-distributor/504840.md?page=2)