A Red Dot Store in Charleston, S. Carolina
It seems that what most people call "Liquor Stores" are unmentionables--at least in writing on the builldings--in Charleston. It is prohibited by law to write the name of the store or the words alcohol, wine, spirits etc. on the actual structure. The products sold are identified only by the large red dots, and in this case, the small sandwich board standing just outside the door. Our walking-tour guide also told us that all Red Dot stores, by law, must currently close at 7:00 p.m. but people are trying to change the law to allow them to stay open until 11:00 p.m.
This was news to me. As a child I remember hearing about "wet" and "dry" states. I wonder if any "dry" states still exist. My current home state still does not allow grocery stores to sell wine or hard liquor, but it does allow Liquor Stores to put up signage on their buildings and to advertise in the newspapers. While Charleston's liquor stores must sell their products from plain brown boxes--with red dots-- the pharmacies can present themselves in pictoresque finery (see below) as long as they meet the requirements of the historic designation.
I'd be interested to know if other states still have restrictions or unusual laws governing the sale of alcohol.
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