We have a few Total Wine stores near us and they carry plenty of non-alcoholic products, like sodas. My 18 year old son loves Saranac's Shirley Temple soda and stopped in to buy a pack the other day. When he got to the register, he was told that it was store policy not to sell any product -- any at all -- to persons under 21. I've confirmed that that is their policy with the owner, David Trone.

I understand they need to be cautious, and I'm fine with that. I think it's a silly policy, though, to refuse to sell to an 18 year old a product that would be legal for a five year old to buy!

Thought I'd give a heads up to any of you that patronize Total Wine that persons under 21 can't buy anything in there, even if it's perfectly legal for them to do so somewhere else.

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I had a similar, yet different, issue come up in a liquor store. I was buying quite a few items for a party and asked my DS2 to help carry them. A store employee came up to me and said that he was not allowed to touch/carry products in the store. Said it was a state law. Good grief......I guess we need legislature for everything!

cj/

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I never heard of "Total Wine" stores. I thought this was a post about a new policy coming on "whining" and you just spelled it wrong!

LOL - me too at first! But I knew truble was a good speller.

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In a way I think that this is a good policy. It's very black & white and doesn't leave the possibility that a clerk might "accidentally" sell to a minor. I think that they are protecting themselves against any possible issues.

I know they sell these things, but personally I don't want my two 18 yr olds the liquor store at all.....even if it is to buy soda. They can buy soda at the grocery store.

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As far as I know, this is the only store around that carries the soda he was buying, so it's really not an option to go elsewhere. Wine and beer are sold in groceries stores, Target, WalMart, even drug stores here here -- liquor is sold only in state-owned ABC stores, so this wasn't what I would consider a traditional liquor store.

I don't think there is any issue of "accidentally" selling soda to anyone, since it's legal for anyone to buy it, across the board.

It's their store, and their policy -- I just think it's a stupid one and won't be patronizing them anymore. I just wanted to give a heads-up for anyone else who might think their kid could buy soda at one.

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I would thank the liquor store owner for not selling anything to minors. They really have no place in a liquor store. He can either buy this product elsewhere or you may purchase this for him.

I didn't mean soda. By them having a blanket policy like this, it removes their sales people from the liability of accidentally selling alcohol to a minor. When my daughter worked for Publix, she could sell beer & wine through her register. She was constantly nervous about accidentally selling alcohol to a minor, with a fake ID. If it happened, they would be fired on the spot, and were constantly reminded of it.

Now, I'm not trying to say your son was trying to buy anything but his soda, but I do understand why some stores have these policies.

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Similar thing here - DD2 was pushing the cart. A store employee rudely told me she could not push the cart or I wouldn't be buying anything there. She always wants to push the cart in a grocery store or WalMart. I thought nothing of it. I was irritated at the policy but pissed at his attitude. He could have just informed me of the policy. In this particular store, kids cannot even POINT to anything. It says it right on a sign at the register. DH & I couldn't believe it.

Lisa

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Ask your grocer or mini-mart manager to order the soda. I've found that when I can't find an item at the grocery store, an item I usually hafta make a special trip elsewhere to buy, I can usually get the grocery/mini-mart manager to order it. Some store managers have been great about this, even going the extra mile to find where to order stuff that they can't find through their normal suppliers, others just say they can't it. But it's worth a try, especially for soda.
MZ

I can understand the store and the cashiers point to, I worked at a convience store Sundays no alcohol could be sold so at midnight i wouldnt. I had to call the police a couple times cause the marine guys was bashing on the window cause they was mad i wouldnt after midnight which was sunday morning. If i did and was caught I'd have been fired.

Was diffrent back when i was a kid i guess, at about 10 I'd go to my grandparents liquor store and they'd pay me to dust bottles, i didnt pick up anything or stock anything just to use the duster on them

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I really don't understand comparing this to him buying alcohol or selling alcohol after hours. It is legal for him to buy soda and the store refused to sell it to him. I think that's silly. How hard it is for a cashier to differentiate between alcohol and soda?

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Alcohol Laws are so weird. Here in Kansas, if they sell soda or anything that goes with alcohol, it has to be a separate store. So some liquor stores have mini-stores within them that have separate cash registers that sell soda, mixers, glasses, etc. I think it's so screwy.

Lisa

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I didn't realize that Saranac is a beer manufacturer, which would explain why he can only find it at a liquor store. I guess if you want him to have it you will have to buy it for him. I doubt the store will changes its policies.

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Sad. This is what happens when the government gets involved. Guess it will only get worse.

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That is interesting. I just went to the Saranac website and on the front page it first wants to know if you are over 21. If not, you can't even look at any of their products. No beer, no non-beer, no near-beer, no nothin'. Looks like they consider their sodas a gateway beverage - lol.

completely off topic---am I the only one who finds it incredibly sweet that an 18 y/o boy would prefer a Shirley Temple soda? I mean really....how cute could he be?

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This isn't a liquor store. In Virginia, liquor stores are owned by the state and called ABC stores. Beer and wine are sold nearly everywhere, including grocery stores, convenience stores, Target, WalMart, etc. Saranac does make beer -- and many other products, including several types of soda, which are sold in grocery stores all over NY --but because it's local to NY, it's harder to find down here in Virginia. Total Wine sells wine, beer, and many kinds of sodas as well.

I understand that store won't change its policies -- that's why I won't shop there anymore.

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I guess with the name "Total Wine" I guess I just assumed it was a liquor store. Here in FL, they sell beer & wine all over too, but not hard liquor. It's funny we have ABC here, but it is strictly a liquor store, with some fancy cheese thrown in.

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