Alcohol sales after 9pm (Dane, Woodman: appointed, Valentine's day, home)

[FryGuy]

I went into a convenience store and attempted to buy some beer at 9:15 pm. I was told I couldn't buy it there or anywhere in Dane County after 9. Is this true? Even for Beer and Wine. If this is the case, this would be more strict than laws down south. What is the rationale for this, especially in a state that loves drinking? Maybe to force people to go to bars. This just seems ridiculous to me. Am I the only one?

[Megan1967]

It's true. Not sure why, but it has been that way for as long as I remember.

[gold*dust1]

It's probably to prevent or slow down on impulse binge drinking. People already drunk purchasing more during the on going party type of thing.

You just learn to plan your alcohol purchases around it.

[Chelito23]

Aren't there restrictions on buying alcohol EVERYWHERE? They just are at different times as far as I am concerned. Maybe there are a few places where you can buy booze 24-7 at a convenience store, but I am not aware of them. Pennsylvania has state stores with limited hours, you can't buy alcohol anywhere else. Texas has dry and wet counties. Some places do not allow alcohol to be sold on Sundays at all. I really think this law is a constant with minor spins on it depending on the state or municipality. My logic says that if you can drink and drive at any time...and most people who drink and drive usually aren't buying a 6 pack, taking it home and going out for a stroll, rather people heading home from bars or parties where you can drink until 2 or 4 or whatever the limit is. It is somewhat ilogical if you think about it...but I guess only the state alcohol commission would know the true answer.

[EastSideMKE]

Originally Posted by FryGuy

I went into a convenience store and attempted to buy some beer at 9:15 pm. I was told I couldn't buy it there or anywhere in Dane County after 9. Is this true? Even for Beer and Wine. If this is the case, this would be more strict than laws down south. What is the rationale for this, especially in a state that loves drinking? Maybe to force people to go to bars. This just seems ridiculous to me. Am I the only one?

Bingo. The Tavern League is very powerful in WI.

[Drover]

There's a loophole around this where a tavern that has an attached package retail store can sell package liquor until tavern closing hours. I don't know if you'll find any place like this in Dane County; it's more common in rural parts of the state. And yes, this loophole should tell you all you need to know about who's responsible for such a ridiculously early cutoff time for package sales in such an otherwise alcohol-friendly state -- except, of course, at package retail shops that happen to double as taverns.

[Ragnar]

At least you can purchase alcoholic beverages at grocery stores in WI and don't have to go to specialty stores.

When I moved to WI 11 years ago I was suprised to learn about the 9 PM rule here. One of my first weeks here involved stopping by the grocery store to purchase a six-pack, only to have the person in front of me (at the only available checkout) purchasing a *TON* of clearance Valentine's Day crap. I was in line quite a bit before 9 PM but by the time it was my turn it was after 9 PM and no sale. I was disappointed, but just learned to plan around it.

For cheap entertainment, try sitting outside of Woodman's West from ~ 8:55 - 9:05 PM and watching all of the last minute people try to dash into the store to purchase their booze. It's a pretty funny spectacle.

[Harpoon]

Yes, that pesky Tavern League got me when I first moved there as well. But at least you can buy alcohol on Sundays, many other states do not allow that.

[RedJacket]

Originally Posted by FryGuy

I went into a convenience store and attempted to buy some beer at 9:15 pm. I was told I couldn't buy it there or anywhere in Dane County after 9. Is this true? Even for Beer and Wine. If this is the case, this would be more strict than laws down south. What is the rationale for this, especially in a state that loves drinking? Maybe to force people to go to bars. This just seems ridiculous to me. Am I the only one?

That's a local law not a state law. The state law permits the purchase of beer until midnight.

[i_am_hydrogen]

I always hated the 9pm cut-off. Thank god for Vic Pierce, which sells until 12pm. It's not that far of a drive, either.

Vic Pierce Liquor - Reviews - BeerAdvocate