A while back I was at Total Wine & More and when we were checking out I said, "We don't need a bag." My wife and I like to be environmentally conscious and not use bags when we don't need to, and use reusable bags when we need a bag. The checker informed me that state law required them to bag alcohol.
Thanks to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverages Control ("ABC") this has been clarified in a statement on their website:
"Over the past several years, the Department has received numerous inquiries concerning laws or rules that compel retail licensees to place alcoholic beverages in bags or other containers before handing the beverages to consumers. Be advised that neither the provisions of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act nor the Department's business regulations require any licensee to put alcoholic beverage purchases in bags or other containers before customers leave the licensed premises. It is possible that some cities or counties may have enacted ordinances that require the bagging of alcoholic beverages. If so, licensees should adhere to these local ordinances."
Neither the city nor the county at the Total Wine I went to require alcohol to be bagged. Well Total Wine checker, I was right, but thanks for the blog post idea.
I've long suspected this, and I've seen that same Industry Bulletin on the ABC site. My town, Monterey, recently enacted a plastic bag ban and requires businesses to charge everyone 10 cents for each paper bag used, in an effort to reduce plastic waste and encourage people to bring their own resusable bags. I'm conflicted about all that but I wouldn't have too much of a problem were it not for the fact that every retailer thinks they have to bag my six pack, and now I have to pay for that bag (nevermind the fact that the bag cost is probably already figured into the cost of the product!). The city has no local ordinance that requires bags either.
ReplyDeleteBut, is there some other California state law that does require bagging, regardless of the ABC regulations? I mean, everyone and their uncle seems convinced that there is some bagging law, it must have come from somewhere. Any clear guidance there would be appreciated. But thanks for this post!
http://www.cawrecycles.org/whats_new/recycling_news/july30_monterey_alcoholicbeverages_paperbag
DeleteCheck with CHP.
Deletei think the stores made it up so they know it has been paid for.
ReplyDeleteWith the recent passing of the bill in CA, most, if not all stores, including liquor stores, stopped providing bags. I always thought it was a law, but apparently... not the case. I'm going to have to get a bigger purse.
ReplyDelete