I just read an article on the Internet that reported that some French
restaurants are permitting customers to leave with the unconsumed
portion of the wine in bottles that they purchased with a meal. This
is in response to a reported French crackdown on drunken driving. My
main surprise was that such a practice had been, until now at least,
been, er, not practiced. I'll bet there are a lot of unhappy waiters
in France these days.

That got me to thinking what the practice is in other places and how
they might vary in the USA from state to state, and how specific laws
might affect things. Where I live (Washington State), I have never had
a problem taking the unconsumed remains from a bottle that I had
purchased at a restaurant. Generally, the waiter will provide a bag
for the purpose. I know that, legally, the opened bottle must then be
transported in a location that is inaccessible to the driver of a
vehicle.

Vino

Vino wrote:

> I just read an article on the Internet that reported that some French
> restaurants are permitting customers to leave with the unconsumed
> portion of the wine in bottles that they purchased with a meal. This
> is in response to a reported French crackdown on drunken driving. My
> main surprise was that such a practice had been, until now at least,
> been, er, not practiced. I'll bet there are a lot of unhappy waiters
> in France these days.
>
> That got me to thinking what the practice is in other places and how
> they might vary in the USA from state to state, and how specific laws
> might affect things. Where I live (Washington State), I have never had
> a problem taking the unconsumed remains from a bottle that I had
> purchased at a restaurant. Generally, the waiter will provide a bag
> for the purpose. I know that, legally, the opened bottle must then be
> transported in a location that is inaccessible to the driver of a
> vehicle.
>
> Vino

In Florida, we're told that if the establishment does not have a package
license, the alcohol must be consumed on the premises.

burris

>In Florida, we're told that if the establishment does not have a package
>license, the alcohol must be consumed on the premises.

Ditto for Ohio and if you're caught in a vehicle with an open container you
might as well drive yourself to jail for up to 90 days for the first offense
because the Judge will throw the book at you. MADD has had a chilling effect
on the restaurant business in this State and to make matters even more
difficult, one of our Senators, Mike DeWine (interesting name for a teatotaler)
had a daughter who was killed in a drunk driving accident so he's an advocate
of very strick enforcement of the State's open container and druck driving
laws.
Bi!!

"burris" wrote in message

> > I just read an article on the Internet that reported that some
> > French restaurants are permitting customers to leave with the
> > unconsumed portion of the wine in bottles that they purchased
> > with a meal.
> >
> > That got me to thinking what the practice is in other places and
> > how they might vary in the USA from state to state, and how
> > specific laws might affect things.




> In Florida, we're told that if the establishment does not have a
> package license, the alcohol must be consumed on the premises.



In New Zealand there exist two classes of licence (to sell liquor) - an On
Licence (which allows for the consumption of beer, wine and spirits) on the
licensed premises (i.e. tavern, restaurant etc.) and an Off Licence - where
the product is taken for consumption elsewhere.

Very occasionally, one business may have both licenses, like a tavern with a
separate off-licence shop; but the law does not allow an opened bottle to
taken.

A partially consumed bottle of wine (sold at a restaurant) cannot be taken
for consumption elsewhere.

In respect to an open bottle of liquor inside a motor vehicle, the only
consideration is the blood alcohol level of the driver; any passengers can
consume liquor without restriction.

st.helier

"burris" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> In Florida, we're told that if the establishment does not have a package
> license, the alcohol must be consumed on the premises.
>

Even if it does, the opened bottle may not be removed from
the premises, whether they sold it to you or you brought it
in as a brown bag. Once opened it must be totally consumed
on premises regardless of their license. Real logical.

pavane

"pavane" > wrote in news:M%OBb.59207$%
:

>
> "burris" > wrote in message
> .. .
>>
>> In Florida, we're told that if the establishment does not have a
package
>> license, the alcohol must be consumed on the premises.
>>
>
> Even if it does, the opened bottle may not be removed from
> the premises, whether they sold it to you or you brought it
> in as a brown bag. Once opened it must be totally consumed
> on premises regardless of their license. Real logical.

And quite an inducement to over indulgence. "use it or lose it" has
never been a good long term philosophy.

>
> pavane
>
>
>

In ,
Vino > typed:

> Where I live (Washington State), I have never had
> a problem taking the unconsumed remains from a bottle that I
had
> purchased at a restaurant. Generally, the waiter will provide a
bag
> for the purpose.


Doesn't it leak from the bag? Wouldn't a bottle be better? ;-)

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

>Where I live (Washington State), I have never had
>a problem taking the unconsumed remains from a bottle that I had
>purchased at a restaurant.

We dined at the Tate Gallery in London some years ago. The Bordeaux on the wine
list used to be cheaper than at the wine merchants.

We had lunch and ordered a modest bottle. We also ordered a bottle of Latour
and instructed them not to open it. Half way through the meal, my friend left
with the unopened Latour in his rucksack, leaving me to finish up and happily
pay the bill - "Oh the other bottle? My friend left with it...." (they weren't
allowed to sell wine except for consumption on site).

I doubt that would work twice.....

The Tate Restaurant, a great place with OK food, but with a great wine
list at great prices. One of the great experiences you should have
before that last breath, no matter what happens to the wine.
I'm envious.


Bill Spohn wrote:
>
> >Where I live (Washington State), I have never had
> >a problem taking the unconsumed remains from a bottle that I had
> >purchased at a restaurant.
>
> We dined at the Tate Gallery in London some years ago. The Bordeaux on the wine
> list used to be cheaper than at the wine merchants.
>
> We had lunch and ordered a modest bottle. We also ordered a bottle of Latour
> and instructed them not to open it. Half way through the meal, my friend left
> with the unopened Latour in his rucksack, leaving me to finish up and happily
> pay the bill - "Oh the other bottle? My friend left with it...." (they weren't
> allowed to sell wine except for consumption on site).
>
> I doubt that would work twice.....

You have wine left at the end of a meal?!


Dimitri

"Vino" > ha scritto:

> I just read an article on the Internet that reported that some French
> restaurants are permitting customers to leave with the unconsumed
> portion of the wine in bottles that they purchased with a meal.
> My main surprise was that such a practice had been, until now at least,
> been, er, not practiced.

The real reason is that leave the restaurant with the unconsummed meal is
considered not elegant, here in Europe.

Ciao
Cesare

A relatively recent amendment to Provincial Liquor legislation permits
restaurants in Alberta to recork, ie. push the cork fully back into the neck
of the bottle and permit customers to leave with it rather than having to
finish the same at the establishment.

It is a welcomed change given that many restaurants have a pretty poor
wine-by-the-glass or 1/2 bottle list.

Nice for those who want a good glass of wine but probably should not be
having another bottle.

Of course you still end up paying the restaurant price for the bottle but if
you want that extra glass you have to pay. Some restaurants have been doing
it [as with BYOB and corkage] for years depending upon how well they know
the customer and whether they suspect the liquor control board investigators
are on the prowl.

It came with the same amendments which now permit BYOB. However, a special
licence is required for the latter whereas I do not know about the former.

Liquor rules concerning the transport of liquor would still apply so it had
better stay corked and in the trunk or otherwise inaccessible to the driver
or others.

Bob Macdonald
Edmonton, AB

"Bob Macdonald" > wrote in
news:jDcCb.672132$9l5.351573@pd7tw2no:

> A relatively recent amendment to Provincial Liquor legislation permits
> restaurants in Alberta to recork, ie. push the cork fully back into
> the neck of the bottle and permit customers to leave with it rather
> than having to finish the same at the establishment.
>
> It is a welcomed change given that many restaurants have a pretty poor
> wine-by-the-glass or 1/2 bottle list.
>
> Nice for those who want a good glass of wine but probably should not
> be having another bottle.
>
> Of course you still end up paying the restaurant price for the bottle
> but if you want that extra glass you have to pay. Some restaurants
> have been doing it [as with BYOB and corkage] for years depending upon
> how well they know the customer and whether they suspect the liquor
> control board investigators are on the prowl.
>
> It came with the same amendments which now permit BYOB. However, a
> special licence is required for the latter whereas I do not know about
> the former.
>
> Liquor rules concerning the transport of liquor would still apply so
> it had better stay corked and in the trunk or otherwise inaccessible
> to the driver or others.
>
> Bob Macdonald
> Edmonton, AB
>
>
>

What is this? Sane liquor laws! You guys in
Alberta are just too much. Let us hope this is seen as the wave of the
future and not just a crazy cowboy maneuver.

In news:jDcCb.672132$9l5.351573@pd7tw2no,
Bob Macdonald > typed:

> Liquor rules concerning the transport of liquor would still
apply so
> it had better stay corked and in the trunk or otherwise
inaccessible
> to the driver or others.


Both corked *and* in the trunk? I thought being corked was
sufficient. Are you saying that there is someplace where it's
illegal to carry a corked bottle of wine in the passenger
compartment?

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

>Both corked *and* in the trunk? I thought being corked was
>sufficient.

It would have to be with certain cars that have no trunk (my TVR, Bugeyed
Sprite.......)

(Bill Spohn) wrote in news:20031212142644.11762.00000507
@mb-m25.aol.com:

>>Both corked *and* in the trunk? I thought being corked was
>>sufficient.
>
> It would have to be with certain cars that have no trunk (my TVR, Bugeyed
> Sprite.......)
>

There is corked and then there is corked. The laws are about open container
such as a screw top on which the seal is broken. One could make a good
argument that a fully pushed in cork, requiring a corkscrew would count as
closed, but a partially pushed in cork which could be twisted off, the bets
are off on that one. Busted.

I travelled to Calgary for 2 years, and always found myself confounded by
the rules. I'm so glad they relaxed on the BYOB and take home the bottle
rules. Calgary has so many great restaurants, and apart from a few great
restaurants (River Cafe, etc...) few have great wine lists. I would buy more
wine just to get the pairing I want, if I knew I could take the bottle home.
I know few people think that way, but the attitudes might change if it were
more flexible.

By the way, I quickly found my way into restaurants. Few restaurants refused
me corkage in Calgary, despite the laws. I never really knew the legality of
it, coming from California. I do know they were all eager for tastes of the
wine.

Jason

"Bob Macdonald" > wrote in message
news:jDcCb.672132$9l5.351573@pd7tw2no...
> A relatively recent amendment to Provincial Liquor legislation permits
> restaurants in Alberta to recork, ie. push the cork fully back into the
neck
> of the bottle and permit customers to leave with it rather than having to
> finish the same at the establishment.
>
> It is a welcomed change given that many restaurants have a pretty poor
> wine-by-the-glass or 1/2 bottle list.
>
> Nice for those who want a good glass of wine but probably should not be
> having another bottle.
>
> Of course you still end up paying the restaurant price for the bottle but
if
> you want that extra glass you have to pay. Some restaurants have been
doing
> it [as with BYOB and corkage] for years depending upon how well they know
> the customer and whether they suspect the liquor control board
investigators
> are on the prowl.
>
> It came with the same amendments which now permit BYOB. However, a
special
> licence is required for the latter whereas I do not know about the former.
>
> Liquor rules concerning the transport of liquor would still apply so it
had
> better stay corked and in the trunk or otherwise inaccessible to the
driver
> or others.
>
> Bob Macdonald
> Edmonton, AB
>
>

In California you can keep your unconsumed bottle, and can take the
bottle with you. If you recork it you can keep it in your transportation
device.

Vino wrote:
>
> I just read an article on the Internet that reported that some French
> restaurants are permitting customers to leave with the unconsumed
> portion of the wine in bottles that they purchased with a meal. This
> is in response to a reported French crackdown on drunken driving. My
> main surprise was that such a practice had been, until now at least,
> been, er, not practiced. I'll bet there are a lot of unhappy waiters
> in France these days.
>
> That got me to thinking what the practice is in other places and how
> they might vary in the USA from state to state, and how specific laws
> might affect things. Where I live (Washington State), I have never had
> a problem taking the unconsumed remains from a bottle that I had
> purchased at a restaurant. Generally, the waiter will provide a bag
> for the purpose. I know that, legally, the opened bottle must then be
> transported in a location that is inaccessible to the driver of a
> vehicle.
>
> Vino