When the US repealed the 18th amendment, it didn't repeal prohibition, it returned it to the states to decide what to do so VA made it hard to get and gave it a high sin tax. We don't think that way anymore, but it left a lucrative situation I suppose, that's been that way from 1933. As a kid I remember the ABC stores being these places with a grey countertop, you had to know what you wanted and then ask for it, you couldn't just wander around looking at stuff. Maryland has interesting rules to protect the morals, Points of sale had to get their alcohol from a distributor. I you had a brew-pub and wanted to sell your beer at some other site, even your own, you had to sell it back to the distributor who would then sell it to your other location. Don't know if that's still true, learned that a few years back but yeah, distributors who are going to lobby to keep those rules. So yeah, we're still being affected by the prohibition era. ** Edited by `lag at 12/15/2023, 8:14:25 PM