Interesting; what do gas stations in your country usually sell? Most places I’ve been in the US and Canada the shops at gas stations are usually referred to as “convenience stores” and while most of what they sell is intended for people on road trips, like individual beverages and snacks along with some automotive products, they usually also have a very limited grocery and pharmacy selection as a convenient stop for basics, especially if the other stores are closed. It’s never surprised me that they usually sell whatever alcohol is legal to be sold in that state/province because it’s such a typical mix with everything else. (Some states and provinces restrict at least some items; hard liquor is often relegated to specialty stores or even state/province-run stores, New York restricts wine and liquor to specialty stores, and Ontario restricts even beer to government-run stores.)
It’s never occurred to me that someone might buy the alcohol and immediately start drinking in the car. I know people sometimes will literally drink while driving but it seems relatively rare here compared to simply getting drunk and then driving. My guess is it’s because open container laws are so well known and alcohol bottles or cans tend to be pretty distinctive compared to non-alcoholic drinks, so it would be pretty obvious if someone had just bought one and immediately started drinking. Most cases I’ve heard of the driver has transferred the alcohol to something less obvious, like a travel coffee cup. Maybe it’s more common in places like Louisiana where they inexplicably have drive-through bars that sell cocktails in to-go cups and put a piece of tape over the straw hole that is supposed to act as a “seal” to show the driver hasn’t been drinking. I’ve never been to any state that does that. But since most people in the US and Canada are driving (outside of the largest cities) buying alcohol at a gas station and getting in a car or buying alcohol at a liquor store and getting in a car doesn’t seem like a particularly different opportunity.
It’s a similar thing here, in Poland. Gas stations are basically expensive convenience stores and sometimes they are the only stores open, so it’s not surprising that they sell alcohol. I’m just talking about the subconscious feeling I have. There was a plan recently to ban selling alcohol at gas stations, but I think it didn’t go anywhere
Interesting; what do gas stations in your country usually sell? Most places I’ve been in the US and Canada the shops at gas stations are usually referred to as “convenience stores” and while most of what they sell is intended for people on road trips, like individual beverages and snacks along with some automotive products, they usually also have a very limited grocery and pharmacy selection as a convenient stop for basics, especially if the other stores are closed. It’s never surprised me that they usually sell whatever alcohol is legal to be sold in that state/province because it’s such a typical mix with everything else. (Some states and provinces restrict at least some items; hard liquor is often relegated to specialty stores or even state/province-run stores, New York restricts wine and liquor to specialty stores, and Ontario restricts even beer to government-run stores.)
It’s never occurred to me that someone might buy the alcohol and immediately start drinking in the car. I know people sometimes will literally drink while driving but it seems relatively rare here compared to simply getting drunk and then driving. My guess is it’s because open container laws are so well known and alcohol bottles or cans tend to be pretty distinctive compared to non-alcoholic drinks, so it would be pretty obvious if someone had just bought one and immediately started drinking. Most cases I’ve heard of the driver has transferred the alcohol to something less obvious, like a travel coffee cup. Maybe it’s more common in places like Louisiana where they inexplicably have drive-through bars that sell cocktails in to-go cups and put a piece of tape over the straw hole that is supposed to act as a “seal” to show the driver hasn’t been drinking. I’ve never been to any state that does that. But since most people in the US and Canada are driving (outside of the largest cities) buying alcohol at a gas station and getting in a car or buying alcohol at a liquor store and getting in a car doesn’t seem like a particularly different opportunity.
It’s a similar thing here, in Poland. Gas stations are basically expensive convenience stores and sometimes they are the only stores open, so it’s not surprising that they sell alcohol. I’m just talking about the subconscious feeling I have. There was a plan recently to ban selling alcohol at gas stations, but I think it didn’t go anywhere