# Return to a liquor store because you can't stand the taste? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717 "2013-06-23T18:52:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/81 "2013-06-26T21:43:46Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > While it may or may not be strictly adheared to or enforced, t is illegal to return alcohol under federal law and most state laws. This includes unopened containers. > > The reason for this has to do with licensing regulations. When you return liquor for a refund or even just for an exchange, you are legally transferring alcoholic beverages. This would be an unlicensed transfer on the part of the customer returning the booze. > > One would think the Feds/states would write certain exceptions into the regualtions, but so far they haven’t. With regard to returning unopened containers where the customer only wants a store credit perhaps there are exceptions in my state. I know I’ve done this once or twice at a local grocery store where I’m known as a regular customer. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/82 "2013-06-26T23:01:14Z")
> [@ombre12](#): > > This thread has no end to it, does it? Maybe if I stop posting it will die a merciful death. > > \ Indeed! Great story, if available may I subscribe to your newsletter? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/83 "2013-06-27T15:53:15Z")
Give/sell the stuff to a teenager; tell him its perfect for a beach party. Girls just love the stuff; he is now a sure buyer. If I was a patron in a liquor store and saw an employee accepting an open bottle I’d wonder about the rest of his stock. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/84 "2013-06-27T16:39:12Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > If I were the liquor store owner, I would happily give your wife a refund and would be very cheerful about doing so. . . Depending on the local laws, you may be cheerfully doing something very illegal. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/85 "2013-06-27T17:09:12Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Depending on the local laws, you may be cheerfully doing something very illegal. I doubt that it’s illegal anywhere on the planet for a store owner to give a refund of money back to a customer. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/86 "2013-06-27T20:22:15Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I doubt that it’s illegal anywhere on the planet for a store owner to give a refund of money back to a customer. In some states, it can be when it comes to alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/87 "2013-06-27T21:06:29Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > In some states, it can be when it comes to alcohol. No it can’t. They may not be able to take back the bottle but they can certainly give you back some money. You can’t tell me that it would be illegal for the owner of a liquor store to give a private citizen $15. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/88 "2013-06-27T22:28:02Z")
Booker Noe, descendant of Jim Beam, was quoted as saying _ **"If you are unsatisfied with our product, return the unused portion and we’ll drink it!"** _ Thought the OP might get a chuckle out of that. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/89 "2013-06-27T22:48:45Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > No it can’t. > > They may not be able to take back the bottle but they can certainly give you back some money. You can’t tell me that it would be illegal for the owner of a liquor store to give a private citizen $15. So, the scenario here is, I walk into a store and say, “I bought {product} and I did NOT like it!” and the store owner is going to just … hand me some cash? How long do you think a store owned by someone like that is going to stay in business? :dubious: Don’t forget, liquor stores have a pretty built-in market; it’s not like folks are gonna just stop drinking entirely. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/90 "2013-06-27T22:57:14Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > So, the scenario here is, I walk into a store and say, “I bought {product} and I did NOT like it!” and the store owner is going to just … hand me some cash? > > How long do you think a store owned by someone like that is going to stay in business? :dubious: Don’t forget, liquor stores have a pretty built-in market; it’s not like folks are gonna just stop drinking entirely. What pisses me off is I’ve gotten beer that was skunked up to high hell. But it is illegal in Wisconsin for stores to accept returns of liquor, I don’t know any that will bend the rules, and it would look pretty bad if I of all people asked a store to ignore the law. So I’m stuck. I’ve learned that if I’m going to buy beer that is in clear or green bottles. to buy a 12 pack or case where the bottles are completely enclosed in card board rather than exposed like 6 packs are. This reduces the chances of light skunking up the brew. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/91 "2013-06-27T23:18:23Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I’ve learned that if I’m going to buy beer that is in clear or green bottles. to buy a 12 pack or case where the bottles are completely enclosed in card board rather than exposed like 6 packs are. This reduces the chances of light skunking up the brew. Except for Miller branded beers. They use a special kind of hop extract in their beers that does not skunk (just in case you like Miller). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/92 "2013-06-27T23:38:19Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > So, the scenario here is, I walk into a store and say, “I bought {product} and I did NOT like it!” and the store owner is going to just … hand me some cash? No. The scenario here is that it is not illegal for the owner to do that anywhere. You claimed that it could be. > [@](#): > > How long do you think a store owned by someone like that is going to stay in business? :dubious: Don’t forget, liquor stores have a pretty built-in market; it’s not like folks are gonna just stop drinking entirely. Not relevant. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/93 "2013-06-28T01:12:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Except for Miller branded beers. They use a special kind of hop extract in their beers that does not skunk (just in case you like Miller). No. I can’t stand High Life & Genuine. And I believe they’re the only ones that use the extract rather than hop pellets. They taste like dish water to me. It’s too bad, too. I saw High Life @ the Pick n’ Slave yesterday for $5.49 a 12-pack. Beast was going for $6.59 a twelver. At one time High Life was Millers flagship brew, now it’s cheaper than the Beast? WTF? I must not be the only one who doesn’t like it! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/94 "2013-06-28T01:40:13Z")
Whoa. High Life cheaper than Milwaukee’s Best? That’s crazy. The Beast is one of the worst beers I’ve ever had, and I’m not a fan of Miller products, either. A bar by my house has $1.50 draft pints on Wednesdays, but there’s only three beers on tap: MGD, Miller Lite, and Bud Light. This is the one instance where I order Bud Light by choice. I will drink Miller if nothing else is around, though. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/95 "2013-06-28T03:53:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The Beast is one of the worst beers I’ve ever had In what way? It doesn’t really taste like anything beyond water. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/96 "2013-06-28T03:59:46Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > In what way? It doesn’t really taste like anything beyond water. It’s just foul. I don’t know what the flavor is, but something in there, just like with Busch Lite (my vote for worst beer), I just can’t stomach. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717.md?page=4)