The law applicable to liquor stores is a combination of state law enabled by federal law, thus allowing liquor stores in each state to operate under a variety of different laws. Liquor stores sell alcoholic beverages in an unopened state (packaged) to [Page 902]be consumed off premises. The stores do, however, fall into several categories, which are discussed in this entry.

Some states require that all sales of packaged alcoholic beverages take place through alcoholic beverages control stores, also known as ABC stores. These stores can be run either by the state through an ABC agency (these stores are also known as monopoly stores) or through private stores licensed by the state to sell packaged alcoholic beverages. Often, even when private companies are licensed to run ...