# Why do pharmacies sell alcohol but not allow sales at the actual pharmacy register?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 20, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780 "2014-12-20T23:39:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/21 "2014-12-21T21:25:48Z")
> [@doreen](#):
>
> It’s incorrect at your Rite Aid- not at mine. I can only pay for prescriptions ( and I guess maybe the stuff displayed right at the pharmacy counter ) at that register. If I want to pick up my prescription and buy toothpaste, I have to pay at the regular register for the toothpaste. And it’s precisely because when they allowed people to pay for a couple of items along with the prescription, it turned into people wanting to pay for full shopping carts along with the prescription and then people wanting to pay for full shopping carts without even having a prescription , just to avoid the line at the main register.
Well its not just at “my” rite aid but numerous ones; like the one close to my parents. Its the exact same way.
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### Author:  [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/22 "2014-12-21T21:52:47Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Well its not just at “my” rite aid but numerous ones; like the one close to my parents. Its the exact same way.
Yeah, but state laws and local regulations make the difference. You’re in Michigan (and presumably your parents are as well) and doreen is in New York.
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/23 "2014-12-21T21:55:09Z")
> [@chiroptera](#):
>
> Yeah, but state laws and local regulations make the difference. You’re in Michigan (and presumably your parents are as well) and doreen is in New York.
Which laws and/or regulations?
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### Author:  [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/24 "2014-12-21T22:21:01Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Which laws and/or regulations?
Ones set by the state or city. Which would be different in Michigan, Utah, New York, Colorado, etc. That’s probably what is governing alcohol laws in wherever you live. You and your parents are in Michigan. I’ve lived in and spent time in other states, where for better or worse, alcohol sales are treated very differently. In Colorado, most (maybe all) stores that can sell booze have an electronic locking system that automatically locks down coolers containing alcohol. In Utah, you have to go to a state-run store if you want anything stronger than 3.2 beer. Etc.
It depends on the state.
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### Author:  [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/25 "2014-12-21T22:29:53Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> Well its not just at “my” rite aid but numerous ones; like the one close to my parents. Its the exact same way.
My point was that you were overgeneralizing when you said
> [@](#):
>
> Incorrect. You can purchase anything except alcohol at the pharmacy counter at Rite Aid (with the obvious exception of tobacco products, which are behind the main counters)
I’m sure that the Rite Aid you use is not the only which allows you to pay for nearly all purchases at the pharmacy register- I’m equally sure that the one I use is not the only one with a “prescription only” policy . There are probably some which allow you to pay for beer at the pharmacy - it’s not as though chain stores are required to have a single, nationwide policy.
I’m fairly sure I doesn’t have anything to do with a law in my area (because as I said, it’s not restricted to beer) but there could be any number of reasons- increased risk of shoplifting; lost prescription business from people who don’t want to wait while three people with full shopping carts get checked out, and therefore take their business to one of the other six pharmacies within two blocks; management doesn’t want the pharmacy to get backed up while Grandpa argues with the clerk that of course he’s over 21, why does he need to show ID and anyway he doesn’t have any as he can’t see well enough to drive anymore …
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/26 "2014-12-21T22:48:38Z")
Well I am in a completely new Rite aid (to me, at least) right now because my normal one couldn’t fill my prescription. As I was waiting, I asked the pharmacist about this. He said all Rite Aids have the policy of no alcohol sales at the pharmacy counter. He also said there are no Rite Aids that limit purchases at the pharmacy counter to medications and related items only. Alcohol is the only limited item. He also could give me no reason for such policy.
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### Author:  [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/27 "2014-12-22T00:47:02Z")
I’m virtually certain that the pharmacy counter is considered a separate business for various obscure legal reasons. That business does not have a license to sell alcohol.
Simple as that.
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### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/28 "2014-12-22T02:18:56Z")
> [@Habeed](#):
>
> I’m virtually certain that the pharmacy counter is considered a separate business for various obscure legal reasons. That business does not have a license to sell alcohol.
>
> Simple as that.
I’d like to see some cites on this. It certainly doesn’t seem to be the case in [New York](http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pharm/article137.htm#sect6808):
> [@](#):
>
> A pharmacy as a department. When a pharmacy is operated as a department of a larger commercial establishment, the area comprising the pharmacy shall be physically separated from the rest of the establishment, so that access to the pharmacy and drugs is not available when a pharmacist is not on duty. Identification of the area within the pharmacy by use of the words “drugs”, “medicines”, “drug store”, or “pharmacy” or similar terms shall be restricted to the area licensed by the department as a pharmacy.
The pharmacy must be registered with the state, but it obviously is not a separate business.
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/29 "2014-12-22T13:53:27Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#):
>
> Beer is considered “Booze”?
How could beer not be considered booze?
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/30 "2014-12-22T14:00:24Z")
> [@Colophon](#):
>
> How could beer not be considered booze?
Many people think of distilled spirits as booze with wine and beer in their own categories.
Even some alcohol licenses make the distinction.
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### Author:  [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/31 "2014-12-22T14:10:41Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#):
>
> I was using “booze” with the implication of booze = alcohol. Sorry if that’s incorrect.
>
> And you’re in Texas. Its not surprising in the least that you can buy alcohol at the pharmacy counter. Y’all crazy. 🙂
No kidding. It’d be along the lines of, " Ya’ll gonna stick with just those 5 boxes of .44 hollow points, or should we pull a pallet of 'em around back to your truck? "
:eek:
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### Author:  [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/32 "2014-12-22T19:34:11Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> Many people think of distilled spirits as booze with wine and beer in their own categories.
> Even some alcohol licenses make the distinction.
There are alcohol licenses that refer to distilled spirits as “booze”?
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pharmacies-sell-alcohol-but-not-allow-sales-at-the-actual-pharmacy-register/707780/33 "2014-12-22T19:39:34Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#):
>
> There are alcohol licenses that refer to distilled spirits as “booze”?
Sorry. What I meant is there are some states where you need separate licenses for beer/wine and hard liquor.
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