# How's your booze supply? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 26, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341 "2020-03-26T17:19:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/81 "2020-04-01T07:48:50Z")
When it became apparent that my state intended to introduce restrictions preventing panic buying of alcohol, I rushed out and bought 10 years supply of booze. This was made much simpler by the fact that I don’t drink. I have a bottle of Merlot that I was given as a thank you for some help a few weeks ago though. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/82 "2020-04-01T16:24:06Z")
Apparently liquor (etc) sales [are indeed up.](https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/The-Bay-Area-is-drinking-42-more-alcohol-than-15167591.php?fbclid=IwAR3wWQLA_Y-HGi6Cu18_iyRl5JRlgEkbnAit3dzfjfTUsRAecdKg9CQ7mBg#photo-19241116). I personally think this is skewed because of people stocking up and will settle down fairly quickly. Though as I told the person who sent me that link: I did actually drink about 3 months worth of alcohol Sunday. Of course, since I rarely drink at all, that consisted of one bottle of hard cider (that Angry Orchard was talking to me, I swear it…). ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/83 "2020-04-01T21:05:54Z")
Huh. On rereading the article: a lot of the data is taken from phone-enabled breathalyzer devices. Since it’s prompted by the COVID discussion even if it’s not directly pertinent: Why would someone have such a device? I can assume that in some cases it’s court-ordered due to a DWI conviction (if that’s how an ignition interlock might be implemented) - but are there really enough such people with one that it’s a valid statistical sampling? Might someone court-ordered be required to use it multiple times during the course of a day? Or is this an example of someone using it before attempting to drive (which is a bad idea for several reasons)? Or is it just a trendy gadget that people use to keep themselves from getting a DWI (and if so, why would they be using it now when they aren’t supposed to go out anyway)? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/84 "2020-04-01T21:59:19Z")
Liquor stores stay open I’m guessing because they generate so much tax revenue. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/85 "2020-04-01T22:28:08Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Liquor stores stay open I’m guessing because they generate so much tax revenue. A redneck disputing the essential nature of liquor. Strange new world we got. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/86 "2020-04-01T23:44:37Z")
California is less puritanical than most eastern states with respect to alcohol sales. Pretty much every grocery store carries a wide selection, so there’s no need to make a special trip. There’s a store on the ground floor of my apartment building that sells booze, so I don’t even have to go outside. But I’ve got a full bar at home because that’s just how I roll. I’m more likely to get hit by a meteor than to be involuntarily sober during this quarantine. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/87 "2020-04-02T05:59:40Z")
I saw a headline (somewhere) that some breweries were shutting down as bottle returns have collapsed. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/88 "2020-04-03T00:46:01Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Well, back when liquor stores delivered you were expected to tip the guy they sent out, so it’s basically the same. It’s really quite exactly the opposite of the same thing, because they’re not delivering (it’s curbside pickup), and they refuse to sell alcohol in this fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/89 "2020-04-03T01:41:19Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > California is less puritanical than most eastern states with respect to alcohol sales. Pretty much every grocery store carries a wide selection, so there’s no need to make a special trip. There’s a store on the ground floor of my apartment building that sells booze, so I don’t even have to go outside. But I’ve got a full bar at home because that’s just how I roll. I’m more likely to get hit by a meteor than to be involuntarily sober during this quarantine. I just got the very skimpy grocery store circular for this week. It was about 1/4 booze. BevMo also seems to be doing well. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/90 "2020-04-03T02:44:50Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > It’s really quite exactly the opposite of the same thing, because they’re not delivering (it’s curbside pickup), and they refuse to sell alcohol in this fashion. One of our local Mexican places is not only offering curbside pickup, but $5 Margarita Specials at the same time! Probably following the model used in Louisiana. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/91 "2020-04-03T05:38:00Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls. Can I visit? Will bring chocolate cake. \ :smack::eek: ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/92 "2020-04-03T07:23:03Z")
I am ashamed to admit to being a booze hoarder! I have 2 1/2 cases of beer, 3 1+liters of Vodka, and a 32 pour boxed wine in stock. In Pennsylvania three weeks ago our antiquated Liquor Control Board closed down all state controlled “State Stores” and since then the only way to get spirits is by buying them online from PA based manufacturers with somewhat usurious shipping fees. Not griping too loudly as many of these firms are making hand sanitizer for free or for low prices… During this time beer distributors and Grocery Shop store beer and wine sellers have been open. Just a few days ago, the PA LCB got their shit together and are now allowing deliveries of their spirits, and considering pick ups. While the PA LCB website keeps crashing, good to see government trying to clear their store shelves. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/93 "2020-04-03T08:37:39Z")
> [@I.Dunno](#): > > Has anyone stocked up on Corona out of spite or irony? I’ve never had it (don’t drink a lot of beer anyway) and I’m told it’s an acquired taste. May buy a 6 pack just to see if I get any looks at the grocery store. Better stock up soon. _Der Standard_ is reporting today that the producer, Grupo Modelo, is halting production, not due to any image problem but because of the Mexican government’s new coronavirus-related restrictions on economic activity deemed non-essential. It’s not a particularly popular drink here in Vienna—almost everyone drinks local rather than imported beer—though I’ve been keeping an eye on the supplies in the supermarkets and it seems to be sold out more often than not. So yeah, I would guess that a lot of people are buying it out of irony or spite. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/94 "2020-04-03T15:20:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > One of our local Mexican places is not only offering curbside pickup, but $5 Margarita Specials at the same time! Probably following the model used in Louisiana. And Texas. We used to be able to get drive-through margaritas, and they were safe from open container laws because there was a piece of tape over the end of the straw! > [@psychonaut](#): > > Better stock up soon. _Der Standard_ is reporting today that the producer, Grupo Modelo, is halting production, not due to any image problem but because of the Mexican government’s new coronavirus-related restrictions on economic activity deemed non-essential. > > It’s not a particularly popular drink here in Vienna—almost everyone drinks local rather than imported beer—though I’ve been keeping an eye on the supplies in the supermarkets and it seems to be sold out more often than not. So yeah, I would guess that a lot of people are buying it out of irony or spite. Grupo Modelo makes a rather nice Vienna-style lager; I’m curious whether it’s available in Vienna: Negra Modelo. It’s one of my very favorite mass-produced beers. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/95 "2020-04-03T19:02:57Z")
I took advantage of Safeway’s buy-6 wine discount for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/96 "2020-04-03T19:12:45Z")
I heard over the radio that not only are people buying more alcohol, they are buying the better stuff and more of it. I haven’t heard of any empty shelves, but I do expect that there will be shortages in later years because of all of this. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/97 "2020-04-03T20:15:38Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > I heard over the radio that not only are people buying more alcohol, they are buying the better stuff and more of it. I haven’t heard of any empty shelves, but I do expect that there will be shortages in later years because of all of this. I read a similar story, not only alcohol but everything. Comfort buying, figuring if this is the way it’s going to be might as well buy the best. I should probably do that, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/98 "2020-04-03T21:06:17Z")
So yeah, apparently nowadays it’s pretty easy to get a serious buzz at 4:00 on a Friday if you’re not careful. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/99 "2020-04-03T21:29:42Z")
4:00? Try noon! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341/100 "2020-04-03T21:53:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 4:00? Try noon! 😃 One should always strive to improve! Right now I think I’ll strive to go to bed at 6… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-your-booze-supply/850341.md?page=6)