# 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:** 5
**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 28, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/81 "2024-05-28T14:43:49Z")
I know. I first encountered traffic circles on a driving vacation in Ireland, twenty years ago. I thought they were a huge improvement on four-way stops back then, and I’m happy to see them catching on over here. ---
**Author:** ![dgy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a587f6/32.png) [@dgy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/82 "2024-05-28T15:12:11Z")
IIRC, Washington DC was laid out with them in mind. They were intended to make defending the city easier as it brought several travel routes together in a single place. It is annoying that they should require explanation. Just as it is for folks who forget that driving in the snow is hazardous yet fail to make adjustments with each new season! (Here, we have daily warnings to keep drivers out of flooded washes. Really? Are folks STILL making that mistake??) ---
**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 28, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/83 "2024-05-28T19:26:51Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@dgy](#): > > > > You also don’t hear the term “rotary” (traffic circle) used much outside of New England. And, even fewer drivers who know how to navigate them! 😞] > > Here they are called roundabouts, and are just becoming common. My understanding is that rotaries and roundabouts are technically two different things: > **[What are roundabouts?](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/what-are-roundabouts)** > > Roundabouts are a type of circular intersection which promotes slow and consistent vehicle speeds entering, circulating, and exiting the intersection. They differ from rotaries because of their smaller size, slower speeds, and lack of lane changes... ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/84 "2024-05-28T23:30:01Z")
How do you think Oscar ended up living in the trash can? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/85 "2024-05-29T18:26:23Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > It’s a damn shame that New York isn’t an ABC Store state. Speaking of regionalisms, as a West Coaster and frequent visitor of Hawaii, “[ABC Store](https://abcstores.com/)” means something very different than a state-run liquor store. (They still sell alcohol, but so does everyone else.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/86 "2024-05-29T22:54:50Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I just have to say I LOVE this question, and I’m imagining all the fun Dopers could have… Yep. My only reason for clicking! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/87 "2024-05-30T01:08:56Z")
Those grownups mighta hit the package store first, saw Snuffy and ran screaming. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/88 "2024-05-30T01:29:21Z")
Had it been opened? If the seal(that piece of paper over the top) broken it’s considered opened. Now, the wrong(or right cop) might disregard any old thing. Laws are laws. Carrying a half pint in the pocket might mean something or nothing. Around here a cop is gonna ask. If it’s on your back seat. They’ll ask. If you have empty cans in the bed of your truck they’re gonna ask. If it’s not in a sack, unopened you’re gonna be questioned. ---
**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 30, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/89 "2024-05-30T03:26:19Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Had it been opened? If the seal(that piece of paper over the top) broken it’s considered opened What about if all the little metal pieces that constitute the ‘seal’ were popped except one? And the policeman used his Robocop vision to see if the bottle was still sealed or not? The person I was responding to said cops never bother him for something like that. And I responded that they sure as hell will if the mood strikes them. I’m not quite understanding this line of questioning. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/90 "2024-05-30T03:57:06Z")
It wasn’t a line of questioning. Just thought folks should know cops use that paper being broken to question people. They like to ask questions when they stop you for something. I have no _direct_ knowledge of this. It’s never happened that I have had a half pint in my pocket. Open or otherwise. I just know the law says if you’re carrying liquor in public it should not be opened. (In Arkansas, bagged or boxed unopened and full) Questions will be asked either way. You’ll come out better in the end if it’s not opened, unsealed or cans removed from the box. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/91 "2024-05-30T04:24:16Z")
I’m not sure if you were replying to me with the earlier post - but if you were, absolutely a cop might ticket you if he’s in a mood and I wasn’t saying it wouldn’t happen . But it’s not illegal in NY to carry an unbagged bottle or can of alcohol and if a cop is going to ticket or arrest you for having a bottle of alcohol in your back pocket or carrying a six pack , they will have to write the ticket or other paperwork for something that is actually illegal. They can no more write a ticket for having a sealed bottle in your back pocket than they can write you a ticket for crossing with the “walk”signal. They would have to lie and say it was an open container- and they certainly might lie. ---
**Author:** ![dgy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a587f6/32.png) [@dgy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/92 "2024-05-30T12:28:36Z")
I may have encountered something like this, today – an unusual sort of intersection but with very different “rules” than a “rotary”. It was essentially a four-way stop (though I later encountered one where two spokes carried “Yield” signage). In the CENTER of the intersection was an island with plantings within. Perhaps as wide as a single lane of traffic but sufficient to prevent anyone from driving straight across (at best, you would have to jog right, then back to the left to avoid it, hard to do while maintaining the posted speed of the feeder roads) I see this as having two possible (traffic control) purposes: - slow THRU traffic down (you would be hard pressed to navigate it at any rate of speed) - allow SLOWED traffic to continue without coming to a complete stop (in the case of paths signed as “Yield” instead of “STOP” This would make sense as the exemplars I encountered were located in residential neighborhoods; you’d typically want to discourage folks from progressing through at high rates of speed, in ignorance of posted limits. But, I always saw “rotaries” as intending neither to slow nor stop traffic. Rather, to allow traffic to proceed through the intersection without incurring a stop or significant speed reduction. I would imagine the “diameter” of the rotary would be determined by the expected speeds of the associated spokes and the expected traffic levels; smaller diameters for less frequently traveled and slower effective speeds. Any civil engineers to confirm or clarify this? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/93 "2024-05-30T14:18:50Z")
They sell a lot of Big Thunderbird. ---
**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 30, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/94 "2024-05-30T21:55:49Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > But it’s not illegal in NY to carry an unbagged bottle or can of alcohol and if a cop is going to ticket or arrest you for having a bottle of alcohol in your back pocket or carrying a six pack , they will have to write the ticket or other paperwork for something that is actually illegal. Or they can write you a ticket for something that isn’t actually illegal. They shouldn’t, but they most certainly can, and sometimes do. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/95 "2024-05-30T22:07:38Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > They sell a lot of Big Thunderbird. - Supposedly, they also sell Mastodon Malt Liquor though no one’s ever seen it in stock. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/96 "2024-05-30T23:41:22Z")
Not here - they have to write the specific violation of law on the ticket . For example, they would check ADM Code for the NYC Administrative code and write in 10-125 (2b) for the specific section for “open container”. I suppose a cop could make up a section , but that would serve no purpose as it would be thrown out before the court date. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/97 "2024-05-31T02:26:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > > > They sell a lot of Big Thunderbird. - > > Supposedly, they also sell Mastodon Malt Liquor though no one’s ever seen it in stock. And one of the locals has his own brand of gin: [![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1i7GQ7q5iplMpXbZM2ys5UxifDqEmBCLPCgFI2ihTxyXRFKGNxHNJUAxrN33vgVYXjNUqXwxsSDuoKv5VtkMrpMG6g8ijHeuUslhMzNd9qH_Ao1eg28X4iAKJwn_06gOxaxvVzJSdUlq/s600/Gordon3.jpg) ](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1i7GQ7q5iplMpXbZM2ys5UxifDqEmBCLPCgFI2ihTxyXRFKGNxHNJUAxrN33vgVYXjNUqXwxsSDuoKv5VtkMrpMG6g8ijHeuUslhMzNd9qH_Ao1eg28X4iAKJwn_06gOxaxvVzJSdUlq/s600/Gordon3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/98 "2024-05-31T02:32:48Z")
I’ve never been to New York City, but I would guess that they have liquor stores or package stores. What I really want to know, is if the air is sweet? Not sure I would have guessed that. 😁 ---
**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 31, 2024, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/99 "2024-05-31T03:25:51Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > What I really want to know, is if the air is sweet? When I was a kid living in So Cal in the 70s, I thought they were singing “where the air is seen”. Like it was outside at my house and why we couldn’t go out and play at recess sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764/100 "2024-05-31T17:48:20Z")
Do you mean air pollution? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sesame-street-have-a-liquor-store/1001764.md?page=6)