# Why would a liquor store take debit cards but not credit cards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 12, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290 "2017-12-12T16:21:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/21 "2017-12-12T23:22:58Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Big companies follow the credit contracts fairly precisely; small businesses often disregard them unless/until their noses are rubbed in them (with the threat of losing the ability to take credit cards from one of the companies!). That’s why some places have minimums for credit (not allowed!), or add special fees for use of a card (not allowed!). And if I’m not mistaken, if you are going to let your customers pay with a MasterCard or VISA debit/credit card, you can’t limit the transactions to just one or the other (I’ve not looked at the current credit card company agreement in a while). The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act specifically allowed merchants to set credit card minimum purchases of $10 or less. Any contract terms to the contrary are unenforceable. Interestingly enough, the law does not specifically mention minimums for debit cards. As part of the Walmart anti-trust litigation settlement, both Mastercard and Visa agreed to modify the “Honor All Cards” rules in the United States. Merchants that honor debit cards are required to honor all debit cards of the same brand, but are not required to honor credit cards. Similarly, merchants that honor credit cards are required to honor all credit cards of the same brand, but are not required to honor debit cards. Different rules apply outside of the US. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2017, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/22 "2017-12-12T23:35:11Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > The Durbin Amendment to Dodd-Frank allowed merchants to offer incentives to pay cash/debit vs. credit, as well as letting merchants set a $10 minimum for credit card sales. > > [Durbin amendment - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durbin_amendment#Background) Ah, yes. I forgot that it wasn’t completely eliminated. Set to $10. Not that places around here care. The local pizza place has a $20 minimum. So, just like before where nobody paid any attention to it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/23 "2017-12-13T00:02:02Z")
We sell silver and gold bullion in our store. We do not take credit cards on these sales because we pay 3% to the card company and our profit margin on the items is quite often 5-9% We can’t afford to lose half the profit. We take a debit card up to $2000. d0llars on gold and silver. I think we pay 50 cents per transaction. On jewelry and normal coins(not bullion), we take credit cards as our profit margin is much higher. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/24 "2017-12-13T00:16:19Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > WINCO stands for WA, ID, NV, CA and OR…so I guess that’s a region. 😃 > > It sounds like they need to modify their name a bit. Maybe WINCOATO? Huh. Today I learned… For the new name, I think I prefer [TACOWINO](https://new.wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=WINCOATO&t=500&a=n). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/25 "2017-12-13T00:22:33Z")
Could there be laws behind the action? I recall distantly that certain products cannot be bought with a credit card in certain localities. Lottery tickets for one. I have not tracked down a cite for alcohol yet. Wine with dinner at a restaurant is in a different category than a 6 pack at the grocery store or a round at the pub. Different liquor license classes. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/26 "2017-12-13T03:47:15Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > WAG but possibly because retailers have to pay juice to a credit card company (usually 3%) > . Or more or less. If this is an industry that is having a lot of problems with card fraud, or if this is an industry where the finance company thinks that there is a lot of margin, the % may be higher. > [@Soar Payments](#): > > Beer, Wine, & Liquor Merchant Services > > Due to the nature of the business, many acquiring banks consider beer, wine and liquor stores to be high risk merchants. This is in part due to the heavy regulations set on the industry, such as age sales restrictions, which make processors view your business as more vulnerable to chargebacks and customer disputes. At Soar Payments, our team of payment processing and credit card experts can help match your beer, wine and liquor store with one of our many partnering banks who specialize in high risk merchant accounts. (I’m not familiar with retail) ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/27 "2017-12-13T04:28:25Z")
My daughter had the opposite problem, sort of, visiting the U.S. with a Thai debit card marked ‘Visa.’ It didn’t work as a debit card (e.g. in ATM machines), but merchants were happy to treat it as a credit card (and pay the fee). I since learned that this problem apparently affects all Thai debit cards _except those issued by Bangkok Bank_. (Since this bank is also the only Thai bank allowed to accept checks or deposits from the U.S. Treasury, it makes choice of banks here easy for a U.S. ex-pat.) I’m surprised the fee on credit card usage is still not well known. I was getting discounts for cash back in the 1970’s. (Like negotiating with a streetwalker who might be a cop :rolleyes: the legal key was who solicited whom first!) ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/28 "2017-12-13T05:12:59Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Depending on where you are, that [changed a few years ago](https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-card-surcharges-allowed-1281.php). It used to be, as you say, you couldn’t surcharge customers for using credit cards. But, the way around it was offering a cash or debit discount. Anyhow, that’s gone, as well as the restriction (that nobody followed anyway) against minimum charges for credit transactions. That settlement was rejected in 2016. See this article: [https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/retailer-swipe-fee-consumers-settlement-surcharge-1282.php](https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/retailer-swipe-fee-consumers-settlement-surcharge-1282.php) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/29 "2017-12-13T05:19:53Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > …For the new name, I think I prefer [TACOWINO](https://new.wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=WINCOATO&t=500&a=n). 😃 Not to be confused with TACAMO: [TACAMO - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TACAMO) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_M.Washington](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_m.washington/32/152_2.png) [@Gary\_M.Washington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_M.Washington)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/30 "2017-12-13T13:34:42Z")
They want to sell on debt or cash. Credit card does not give them surety to fund. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/31 "2017-12-13T14:48:42Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Huh. Today I learned… > > For the new name, I think I prefer [TACOWINO](https://new.wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=WINCOATO&t=500&a=n). 😃 If you aren’t in the marketing profession, get yourself there pronto. :D:D:D ---
**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:** [December 13, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/32 "2017-12-13T14:58:15Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > That settlement was rejected in 2016. See this article: [https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/retailer-swipe-fee-consumers-settlement-surcharge-1282.php](https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/retailer-swipe-fee-consumers-settlement-surcharge-1282.php) Huh. Interesting. Like I said, doesn’t seem to stop anyone here, but I had no idea that it was rejected last year. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290/33 "2017-12-13T16:34:02Z")
Has there been any progress since that settlement was rejected? That was eighteen months ago or so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-liquor-store-take-debit-cards-but-not-credit-cards/804290.md?page=1)