# What is Liquor? For the purpose of a liquor license? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 4, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977 "2008-03-04T00:33:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hotcoldhot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58f4c7/32.png) [@hotcoldhot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotcoldhot)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/1 "2008-03-04T00:33:14Z")
I was watching an episode of “Alice,” and Mel’s Diner is having trouble because Barney’s Burger Barn has invented a new sauce. Turns out Barney has made his sauce with liquor. Mel says “Barney doesn’t have a liquor license.” So Alice says he’ll have to stop making it, and everyone is happy. So my question is is alcohol put into a sauce at a resturant regulated by a liquor license? ---
**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/2 "2008-03-04T00:50:37Z")
This probably varies state to state, but I really, really doubt it. How else could they serve beer cheese soup in restaurants that don’t serve drinks? ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/3 "2008-03-04T01:14:08Z")
I have bought BBQ sauces made by both Jack Daniels and Budweiser and both list their respective products as ingredients. Neither had any requirements that the purchaser must be of age. As far as most TV shows, Alice included, they are not based on reality as we know it. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/4 "2008-03-04T03:21:53Z")
Yeah, I imagine most places have exceptions to the laws for liquor/alcohol used as an ingredient in a prepared food dish. I’m sure there’s a limit to the amount, but most sauces and whatnot wouldn’t be over it. For instances, where I work we have a whiskey caramel sauce that goes on a dessert. It’s not heated in any way after the whiskey is added, but you certainly don’t need to be 21 to order the dessert because it’s such a small amount. There’s also bourbon in the salmon marinade. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/5 "2008-03-04T03:47:05Z")
See my post (#9) in this thread [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=440947&](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=440947&), whatever state I was looking into at the moment would probably define all the above mentioned concoctions as “liquor.” OTOH, one _might_ be able to call a marinade or sauce with alcohol in it denatured. The only reason I’m saying this is becuase a few weeks ago my father was trying to buy white wine vinegar and wound up with white wine. This store does NOT sell any alcohol. The bottle said DO NOT DRINK, upon tasting it, my mother said it was wine, but it was way to salty to drink. I’m guessing that the added salt is enough to make it undrinkable and therefore can be sold by stores with no liquor licensce. I’m wondering if something similar is going on with the sauces and toppings. (Don’t shoot me about the denatured thing, I know denatured means that something poisonous is added like acetone of isoproponal or gasoline, but it was the first thing I thought of.) ---
**Author:** ![tonedef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@tonedef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonedef)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/6 "2008-03-04T13:31:43Z")
I would say its because there is such a low level of alcohol in it to effect you that there i no need for a liquor license. It seems as how you don’t need to be over the legal drinking age to order a Lemon, lime & bitters ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/7 "2008-03-04T13:39:44Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] The only reason I’m saying this is becuase a few weeks ago my father was trying to buy white wine vinegar and wound up with white wine. This store does NOT sell any alcohol. The bottle said DO NOT DRINK, upon tasting it, my mother said it was wine, but it was way to salty to drink. [/QUOTE] That’s cooking wine, which is generally legal for sale since they add the salt so you can’t drink it straight. It’s meant to be used in cooking only (though no serious cook would actually use it). I have been in restaurants that refused to serve creme de menthe sundaes to minors, even though there’s only a tablespoon or so of creme de menthe. But I’m not sure if that is really an issue, or just the restaurant being extra careful. But I have seen chain restaurants talking about Jack Daniels barbeque sauce. Usually in cooking the alcohol cooks away (not 100%, but most of it), so it shouldn’t be an issue selling it without a license. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/8 "2008-03-04T14:25:10Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] That’s cooking wine, which is generally legal for sale since they add the salt so you can’t drink it straight. It’s meant to be used in cooking only (though no serious cook would actually use it). I have been in restaurants that refused to serve creme de menthe sundaes to minors, even though there’s only a tablespoon or so of creme de menthe. But I’m not sure if that is really an issue, or just the restaurant being extra careful. [/quote] I’d imagine both. Since they have creme de menthe on site, they most likely have a liquor licence. You REALLY REALLY don’t want to get caught serving to minors. A friend of mine worked at a Chili’s in Milwaukee (not the city, the county of) she said if a bartender get’s caught by police serving alcohol to minors it’s a $10,000 fine and the bar get’s shut down for the rest of the day. While I don’t know if that’s true or hearsay I can tell you that a restaurant isn’t going to do anything that may jepordize their ability to sell drinks. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-liquor-for-the-purpose-of-a-liquor-license/439977/9 "2008-03-04T14:46:07Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. “Alcoholic beverage” includes alcohol, spirits, liquor, > wine, beer, and every liquid or solid containing alcohol, spirits, > wine, or beer, and which contains one-half of 1 percent or more of > alcohol by volume and which is fit for beverage purposes either alone > or when diluted, mixed, or combined with other substances. > > 2. “Distilled spirits” means an alcoholic beverage obtained by > the distillation of fermented agricultural products, and includes > alcohol for beverage use, spirits of wine, whiskey, rum, brandy, and > gin, including all dilutions and mixtures thereof. > > 3. “Beer” means any alcoholic beverage obtained by the > fermentation of any infusion or decoction of barley, malt, hops, or > any other similar product, or any combination thereof in water, and > includes ale, porter, brown, stout, lager beer, small beer, and > strong beer but does not include sake, known as Japanese rice wine. > > 4. “Wine” means the product obtained from normal alcoholic > fermentation of the juice of sound ripe grapes or other agricultural > products containing natural or added sugar or any such alcoholic > beverage to which is added grape brandy, fruit brandy, or spirits of > wine, which is distilled from the particular agricultural product or > products of which the wine is made and other rectified wine products > and by whatever name and which does not contain more than 15 percent > added flavoring, coloring, and blending material and which contains > not more than 24 percent of alcohol by volume, and includes vermouth > and sake, known as Japanese rice wine. > Nothing contained in this section affects or limits the power, > authority, or duty of the State Department of Health Services in the > enforcement of the laws directed toward preventing the manufacture, > production, sale, or transportation of adulterated, misbranded, or > mislabeled alcoholic beverages, and the definition of “wine” > contained in this section is limited strictly to the purposes of this > division and does not extend to, or repeal by implication, any law > preventing the production, manufacture, sale, or transportation of > adulterated, misbranded, or mislabeled alcoholic beverages. [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=22001-23000&file=23000-23047](http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=22001-23000&file=23000-23047) > [@](#): > > 1. Nothing in this division prevents or restricts the use of > tax-free alcohol or of industrial alcohol or other distilled spirits > or wine under regulation of the United States Government in the > manufacture of any of the following products, if the products are > unfit for beverage use: > (a) Medicinal, pharmaceutical, or antiseptic products, including > prescriptions compounded by registered pharmacists. > (b) Toilet products. > (c) Flavoring extracts. > (d) Sirups. > (e) Food products. > (f) Scientific, chemical, or industrial products. [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=23001-24000&file=23100-23113](http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=23001-24000&file=23100-23113)