National Yachtline - HMRC

[Talbot]

We always stopped overnight in Cherbourg on our way home to top up the wines and gin ( cheaper than GY) as well as to avoid any need to clear customs back in Poole, by re-entering the eU in France where they generally don't care about Brits arriving from the islands and actually get miffed at those pedants who fly 'Q' and thereby force them to get out from the office

it also meant we could set off home at an hour to suit us not to time our passage through Alderney Race.

My solution as well.

 

[DJE]

Haven't encountered any, but I have a story that illustrates US attitudes to alcohol!

In Maryland in the early 90s supermarkets were not allowed to sell alcohol. But there was always a liquor store next door.

 

[Robin]

In Maryland in the early 90s supermarkets were not allowed to sell alcohol. But there was always a liquor store next door.

generally I have found supermarkets can sell wine or beer (though in some places not on Sundays) but spirits and 'hard' stuff etc are only available in dedicated, and probably licensed, liquor stores which oddly seems to include Drug Stores (LIke major pharmacy stores in the UK, BOOTS etc) like Osco Drug


purchases from liquor stores are put in brown paper bags to take away which make you look like a local wino. WE Only buy Non alcohol beer and wine these days so no problem it all goes in the supermarket bag and if we get an odd look or two from others in the line it is because we are buying the fake stuff.

if driving in most States it is illegal to have opened containers inside the car. Remember this if like us in times past travelling from the Uk when stopping overnight driving to our final destination from the airport and having taken a bottle of duty free in with us, because you need to put the opened bottle in the boot (trunk) when moving on in the car next morning, beware because OFficer Dibble here is armed, suspicious and has no sense of humour.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Haven't encountered any, but I have a story that illustrates US attitudes to alcohol!

In 1993, my Boss ( a lady about 10 years older than I), myself and a young man (mid 20s) had a meal in a restaurant in Redlands, California. Of course, we ordered a bottle of wine. Embarassed looking waitress came up and asked my boss if they should put a glass out for "our son"? There was so much wrong with her assumptions that we all found the situation hilarious! Perhaps you had to be there and know the people concerned . But it only arose because of the slightly censorious attitude of parts of America to alcohol.

Certainly in 1987 I was warned in Houston, Texas that alcohol was only available with meals in public places. And in 1993, you could only buy alcohol from official liquor stores in Redlands, California.

Well i'm typing this from Texas.... and I can assure you alcohol is available without a meal in a public place!

 

[Robin]

Well i'm typing this from Texas.... and I can assure you alcohol is available without a meal in a public place!

Last time I was there in Dallas,ok a year or two back now , you could only get a drink with a meal on a Sunday other days were OK it was just a Sunday rule, so maybe Texas is full of Welsh 'Chapel going ' immigrants?

 

[macd]

Bible Belt, innit. You were lucky you could get a drink at all on a Sunday. Utah has similar latter day issues.