# Does Sesame Street have a liquor store? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [May 19, 2024, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764 "2024-05-19T06:18:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/41 "2024-05-20T16:05:08Z")
Is this type of liquor store just a liquor and lotto store? Is it seedy? I remember when my dad went to the “beverage store” in our town. It was on the main drag between some houses and restaurants and a mechanic’s shop. Granted they did have some candy and gum, and it wasn’t a problem for kids to come in. There’s a true liquor store in the town next door (just liquor/beer/wine, no candy). It’s between the fire station and McDonald’s. Also not seedy. But, this is the suburbs. Different town planning. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/42 "2024-05-20T16:28:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > remember when my dad went to the “beverage store” in our town. It was on the main drag between some houses and restaurants and a mechanic’s shop. When I was growing up the local liquor store was a tiny wedge-shaped building, that continued to stand just long enough to show up on [Google’s oldest Street View](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GqYnEMYqMfWWkAMJ9). ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/43 "2024-05-20T16:43:44Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > > > The existence of a liquor store isn’t necessary seedy, it’s just a part of life. > > But also likely not located in the best part of town. Until it was recently gentrified, I never got the impression that Sesame Street was in the best part of town. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/44 "2024-05-20T16:46:19Z")
NYC has pretty high end liquor stores and even higher end wine stores. The best neighborhoods have liquor stores. Us New Yorkers feel no shame when it comes to acquiring alcohol for our personal consumption. Of course we do have our own seedy, ceiling to floor plexiglass, hole-in-the-walls where winos get their Thunderbird and Night Train, but a liquor store isn’t necessarily or even likely, trashy. ETA: I first heard about ‘package stores’ when we spent a three day weekend with the kids in Hershey, PA. Locals pointed us to a package store a half an inch out of dry Hershey to find some beer. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/45 "2024-05-20T16:47:28Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > So is that what Big Bird is talking about, or die6s he mean something less…slummy? Yes, but it only sold wine used for Communion by Christian churches. … … Sorry, I made that up! 😈 ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/46 "2024-05-20T16:54:45Z")
Depends on where you are talking about - you’ll find a liquor store in almost any neighborhood in NYC Middle class and wealthy people need their wine and liquor too. Although those stores don’t necessarily have much in common with the places that sell Thunderbird and Mad Dog. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/47 "2024-05-20T16:58:31Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Until it was recently gentrified, I never got the impression that Sesame Street was in the best part of town. Yeah, from what I understand Sesame Street was specifically _not_ supposed to be the best part of town. When the show was first created in the late 1960s the intent was to appeal to underprivileged inner city kids. The idea was that maybe they could make up for these kids’ lack of other educational opportunities by getting them to watch an educational TV show. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/48 "2024-05-20T18:06:54Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > I was rethinking this and it may not have been a law yet it was certainly standard practice that the cashier would bag a bottle or two. In fact, it’s not a law, at least not in NY. > There is no requirement under the ABC Law for alcoholic beverages to be packaged in a bag when they are being taken out of a retail store for off-site consumption. > **[New York Laws | Alcohol Seller Server Training](https://www.sellerserveronline.com/new-york/ny-alcohol-laws/)** > > Learn about the New York alcohol laws and the regulations for selling and serving alcoholic beverages in the state. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/49 "2024-05-20T18:13:32Z")
🎶 _And they closed the package store…_ 🎵 ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/50 "2024-05-20T18:25:05Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > I was rethinking this and it may not have been a law yet it was certainly standard practice that the cashier would bag a bottle or two. I’m not sure that had anything to do with alcohol - it was standard practice in NY to bag almost any purchase until fairly recently, The only time I think alcohol made a difference was that one single serving bottle/can of soda wouldn’t normally be bagged if that was your only purchase but one single serving bottle/can of beer would be in a small paper bag. But that was so if you drank it on the street or in the park everyone could pretend they didn’t know it was beer. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/51 "2024-05-20T18:37:30Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > It actually wouldn’t surprise me if Spinney was ad-libbing and he did mean “liquor store.” Sesame Street takes place in the city and is not trying to hide the mundane realities of urban life from kids. _Who are the people in your neighborhood?_ _In your neighborhood?_ _In your neigh-bor-hood?_ _Yes, who are the people in your neighborhood?_ _The people that you meet each day?_ _The pusher always brings the smack_ _(Provided that you have the jack)_ _So if a junkie robs your store,_ _It’s the pusher that the money’s for._ _'Cos the pusher is a person in your neighborhood_ _In your neighborhood_ _He’s in your neigh-bor-hood!_ _Yes, the pusher is a person in your neighborhood,_ _He’s a person that ya meet_ _When you’re walking’ down the street_ _He’s a person that you meet each day!_ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/52 "2024-05-20T19:49:38Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > I believe Snuffy can be seen now Since the third week of November '85. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/53 "2024-05-20T21:03:52Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > When I lived in Australia it didn’t take too long to understand a package store meant a place for liquor and beer I’ve never heard anyone say that here. They just call it by its actual name, or refer to the Bottle-o. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/54 "2024-05-20T21:16:55Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I just have to say I LOVE this question, and I’m imagining all the fun Dopers could have, speculating on which characters go there most, and what are the biggest selling items! > > Bert’s probably there a lot (but if you caught him going in, he’d claim to be buying a lottery ticket). Ernie, on the other hand, is 'round back of Mr. Hooper’s store, buying speedballs and Ecstasy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/55 "2024-05-20T22:42:03Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > That’s correct. The creators of Sesame Street recognized the value in having grown ups “see” something that is very important to a kid. Thus, they came to see Bird’s best friend, Snuffy. And thereby tried to reassure kids that if they had some secret to share (like being molested) the adults in their life would listen. I understand their motivation, but I think it would have worked better to keep the adults not seeing Snuffy. The message then is, sometimes, even if the grown-ups don’t see something, and even sometimes if they don’t believe you, it’s still true and you should still tell them. Best of all, I think, would have been for none of the adults to see him, but some of them to believe Big Bird when he told them about him, and some to remain skeptical. > [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Until it was recently gentrified, I never got the impression that Sesame Street was in the best part of town. Sesame Street is low-income but dignified. You’ll find places like that in any city. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/56 "2024-05-20T23:18:41Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > In New York there’s a law that you can’t walk out of a liquor store or deli holding a bottle or a six-pack not bagged That is absolutely not true. Almost every time when I buy a six pack in NYC I walk out just carrying it from the cardboard holder. Especially now that you’re expected to bring your own bag. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/57 "2024-05-21T01:21:55Z")
Are you white? Because black people get ticketed for walking around with unbagged liquor. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/58 "2024-05-21T01:30:40Z")
They get ticketed for not having a six pack in a bag? I know getting a ticket for an open container happens and I know it happens to black people in circumstances that don’t get white peoples ticketed, but I can’t even imagine what the offense would be if they had a six pack that wasn’t in a bag. I mean , sure the cops could lie and say one of the cans was open but that’s something different. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/59 "2024-05-21T01:34:49Z")
If the cop you run into is in a mood. My brother-in-law once got ticketed for a pint of Brass Monkey that was visible in his back pocket. He should have gotten the ticket just for buying Brass Monkey in the first place, but that is neither here nor there. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/60 "2024-05-21T03:13:41Z")
It’s the modern Sesame Street, the package store is up next to the OTB and the weed store, across the street from a Starbucks and original Rays. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764.md?page=4)