Who’s Frustrated with Liquor Laws?
Posted on December 12, 2007
Filed Under Controversy
I admit it. I put a small bottle of liquor, packaged in a beautifully-shaped, black bottle, in a gift basket in my early years when I didn’t know you needed a license do add so. Cuff me now.
It’s still not easy to understand the rules for adding liquor, because every U.S. state has their own laws.
The situation is mind boggling, and to make it worse, it seems that you can’t get a straight answer from anyone at the state department that controls the laws. Or maybe I’m wrong.
When you called your state’s liquor authority, what did they tell you?
If your customers ask for liquor, and you can’t legally add it, what alternatives do you offer?
If you can add liquor, how much did it raise your revenues? Tell us it was worth the trouble!
What are your concerns about this gift basket gray spot? Or perhaps you’re not adding liquor in your baskets and never will?
Gift basket designers outside of the U.S. — tell us if our sketchy laws are the same in your country.
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11 Responses to “Who’s Frustrated with Liquor Laws?”
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i only put cider in my baskets. Somebody asked me to add beer, but i was afraid because I might get in trouble. I will call my state to find out the law. I didn’t think of that before.
Hi Wanda,
You were right to not accept an order that includes beer, as it’s considered an alcoholic beverage.
I’m glad that you’re encouraged to check your state law. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to learn that there is a way to add liquors to your baskets if it’s an item you want to include?
Forget beer and wine. It’s not worth it for me. I’d have to run around to pick thatt stuff up, and what’s the point. My customers won’t pay me for that kind of personal service.
Is this true? I put wine in my baskets all the time. Where do i get a liqor license?
Patrick,
While providing clients with extra services to encourage them to buy, you’re right about the time and energy it takes to get a product for inclusion in a basket.
The client must pay, and if they’re not willing to do so, it’s best to stick with what you do best — order inventory from a wholesaler and sell that without running all over the place to get additional products.
Dana,
Oops, wine all the time without a license? Good thing we don’t know where you’re located.
Yes, please, check your state’s liquor license department or whatever it’s called in your state before bad luck creeps up on you.
what about rum cakes. is that okay?
[…] to all of you who’ve asked questions and shared comments about liquor laws on the Ask The Gift Basket Expert site. This entry is filed under Sales Planning, Places and Spaces. You can follow any responses to […]
Trudy,
It’s okay to add rum cakes because the product is more cake than rum.
Now you have me thinking about liquer-filled chocolates, the ones with the liquid center. That’s pretty concentrated stuff, but it’s sold in the confection’s aisle with the rest of the candies, so I believe that’s okay, too.
We’re just trying to bring two people or companies together. Why do these situations get in our way?
[…] We talked about liquor laws and licenses last year at Ask The Gift Basket Expert. […]