On 12/29, Jill wrote:

>You mean to say, where you live, if I were purchasing (for
>example) a particular brand of chardonnay the clerk wouldn't be
>allowed to say X-brand chard is on sale for $2 less? And what
>about someone who doesn't know anything about whatever they are >shopping for,
e.g. "I need to buy a bottle of liquor for my >friend/boss/mailman and he/she
drinks Scotch but I don't
>know what is good?" They couldn't make suggestions? If that's
>what you mean, that is just nuts!

The state stores sell spirits and miscellaneous booze related
merchandise (cocktail olives/onions, lemons, snacks, novelty
water pitchers, etc.). To address your Scotch for the friend/boss/
mailman comment, the clerks are not supposed to discuss the
merits of brand A versus brand B. The transaction is limited to
you saying to the clerk "I'd like a fifth of Brand A Scotch", he gets
you a fifth of brand A Scotch, puts it in a bag and takes your money.
So, as to this part of your post, ("If that's what you mean..."), that
is what I mean, ("that is just nuts"), I'd use a different word, but
"nuts" will do.

Licensed supermarkets, convenience stores and specialty stores
can sell beer and wine. The clerk is free to say pretty much anything
he or she pleases.