liquors vs. spirits

[jokaec1]

We know both liquors and spirits can represent strong alcoholic drinks. What is the difference in AmE? For example, I ask "What are the best liquors or spirits in your store?". Is there any difference in AmE?

 

[Skrej]

They're pretty much the same, although 'liquor' is more colloquial. As far as I can recall, I've only seen 'spirits' used in articles from food/beverage magazines, blogs, store signs, etc.

I probably wouldn't ask for the best liquor or spirit in a store, though. I'd probably specifically ask what their best vodka/gin/bourbon/wine/whatever was, depending on what I was looking for.

Note that 'liquor' excludes beer and wine, however. 'Spirits' could be any alcoholic beverage.

 

[SoothingDave]

If you asked someone where you could buy some "spirits" you would probably get some odd looks.

 

[Rover_KE]

I've noticed that in the USA, unlike the UK, supermarkets are only licensed to sell beer and wine in their alcoholic drinks section.

If you want spirits or liqueurs (as well as beer and wine), you've got to find a liquor store.

 

[jokaec1]

If you asked someone where you could buy some "spirits" you would probably get some odd looks.

Why will I get odd looks if I ask where I can buy the "spirits"? If I ask "liquors", will I get odd looks as well?

 

[Skrej]

I've noticed that in the USA, unlike the UK, supermarkets are only licensed to sell beer and wine in their alcoholic drinks section.

If you want spirits or liqueurs (as well as beer and wine), you've got to find a liquor store.

Actually, it varies from state to state. Some states allow supermarkets to sell all kinds of alcohol. Some, as you said, only allow beer and wine in supermarkets. Some, like mine, only allow beer sales in supermarkets.

Generally, a liquor store (or as they're known is some parts of the Eastern US 'package stores') will carry everything, but even that varies some. I once discovered that in Idaho, liquor stores are forbidden by law to carry beer. Only supermarkets can sell beer in that state.

Some allow alcohol sales on Sunday, some don't. Some only allow liquor by the drink (i.e. bars/restaurants) to sell on Sundays. When those states happen to border a state that allows Sunday sales, you'll always find a store just inside the state line on every road between the two states. The town I live in is like that - it's about two miles from the city limits to the state line, and so on Sunday there's a steady line of cars crossing over the border to buy on Sunday and bring it back home.

Never really understood why they don't just buy extra on Saturday if you're planning on drinking on Sunday, but I guess it's close enough to not merit pre-planning.....

 

[Skrej]

Why will I get odd looks if I ask where I can buy the "spirits"? If I ask "liquors", will I get odd looks as well?

Because as we've explained, 'spirits' isn't used colloquially. It'd be like asking somebody where you could find some 'cuisine'. They are literary terms only.

And actually, there are a few certain parts of the US where it would get you a funny look to ask for any kind of alcohol. Certain parts of the US are what we call 'dry', meaning all sales of alcohol are legally prohibited. Of course it doesn't stop people from making their own and selling it illegally, which is referred to as moonshining (the distillation) and bootlegging (the transportation). However, it's all hush-hush, not something you're go about asking perfect strangers.

Other parts of the US it may not actually be illegal, but the general population frowns upon consumption for religious reasons, so again, if you wanted some, you'd have to make discreet inquiries.

And of course, from about 1920 to 1933, there was a national law against making, distributing, and selling ALL alcohol throughout the entire United States, during a dark period known as Prohibition. We even made the 18th Amendment to our Constitution making alcohol illegal. Fortunately, we came to our collective senses and repealed it with the 21st Amendment.

Prior to prohibition, some states were already 'dry'. My state of Kansas was the first to abolish alcohol, in 1881. (Fortunately, I wasn't born for almost another hundred years. )

During that period of sobriety we also passed an Amendment allowing women to vote. I'm not sure if there's a connection there or not.

 

[Rover_KE]

Actually, it varies from state to state. Some states allow supermarkets to sell all kinds of alcohol.

I was once in a Publix in Orlando, FL to buy beer. A sign said ALCOHOL ONLY SOLD ON SUNDAY AFTER 10AM.

It was only Friday, so I hadn't time to wait.:mrgreen:

 

[Raymott]

In fact, 'liquor' can be used to mean any alcoholic drink, as in "Muslims don't drink liquor" or "No liquor allowed".
I agree that in the context of other alcoholic drinks it means spirits.

[h=2]liquor[/h] (ˈlɪkə) n1. (Brewing) any alcoholic drink, esp spirits, or such drinks collectively

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/liquor

 

[Rover_KE]

I was just about to say that in my experience 'liquor' is rarely used in BE, except in the specialised case which Piscean has described.

I'd say most of us consider the word to be primarily the AE version of 'alcohol(ic drinks)'.

EDIT: On reflection, 'liquor' has a non-alcoholic, culinary application:

• any liquid substance, esp that in which food has been cooked

(Collins)

 

[Raymott]

It also has uses in medicine for various bodily fluids, if it comes to that.

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/liquor+amnii

 

[Skrej]

We also (at least in AmE) use the term liquor to refer to the natural juices that collect when eating oysters on the half-shell.

It sounds like the terms may be used differently in AmE and BrE then. Liquor in AmE typically refers to what we refer to as hard liquor, or distilled spirits, while spirits is largely just a literary term.

A more generic term for any kind of alcohol is 'booze', which could refer to any alcoholic beverage.

 

[SoothingDave]

Actually, it varies from state to state. Some states allow supermarkets to sell all kinds of alcohol. Some, as you said, only allow beer and wine in supermarkets. Some, like mine, only allow beer sales in supermarkets.

Generally, a liquor store (or as they're known is some parts of the Eastern US 'package stores') will carry everything, but even that varies some. I once discovered that in Idaho, liquor stores are forbidden by law to carry beer. Only supermarkets can sell beer in that state.

And then there is Pennsylvania, with the strictest liquor laws outside of Utah. We buy liquor and wine in "state stores," that are, yes, run by the state government.

Buying beer in some supermarkets is a relatively new innovation based upon the legal distinction that you are buying the beer from a separate business that is a "restaurant" which just happens to be located inside of the supermarket.

 

[Skrej]

Ah, ABC states.

I saw one of those state outlet stores in New Hampshire once. Supposedly because it was state owned, there was no tax added, so the booze was supposedly so much cheaper. Kind of amusing because I was on a limited access toll road, and instead of a gas station or food joint, they had a state retail outlet liquor store in the median.

I compared prices on a few of my favorites and found the prices to be about the same. Sure, you didn't pay tax, but they'd raised their base rates to be about the same as what you'd pay for the bottle + tax in other places.

I ended up not buying anything. Didn't save enough to merit trying to stock up and haul it around all day just to take back home.

 

[SoothingDave]

I think someone was pulling your leg. The state surely taxes liquor. They just roll it into the price. PA charges an 18% "emergency" tax (since 1936) rolled into the price. Then sales tax on top of that.

 

[Mrfatso]

Not A Teacher

In parts of London and the surrounding areas such as Essex there is a traditional food of meat pie, mashed potato and a sauce known as liquor.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cockney_pie_and_mash_33197

 

[Skrej]

I saw that, in an episode of Ade in Britain which talked about bangers, mash, and liquor. They were doing the whole show about Cockney food, accents, etc.

About 25 seconds in.

 

[jokaec1]

Because as we've explained, 'spirits' isn't used colloquially. It'd be like asking somebody where you could find some 'cuisine'. They are literary terms only.

Since 'spirits' isn't used colloquially in AmE, can I ask "What are the best hard liquors in your store?"?

 

[SoothingDave]

You could, but tastes are awfully subjective. The suggestion above to narrow it to a type of liquor is more likely. What's your best bourbon? What's the most popular brand of gin?