Thanks. I thought it was the law. Makes sense though.
May I trouble you for another question?
America has the BATF, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, (and explosives), which to an Italian ear sounds very strange. I mean putting Champagne in the same general category as a Mauser (or TNT).
But what surprised me is that there are “dry” counties. Wikipedia says:
33 states have laws which allow localities to prohibit the sale (and in some cases, consumption and possession) of liquor. Three states, Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee, are entirely dry by default.
To me it’s unthinkable that - say - a construction worker - can’t kick back and knock down a beer after straining and sweating in the sun all day... or for that matter, that someone can’t take a bottle of Riesling with him on a picnic.
I read that the County that invented Bourbon (in Kentucky) prohibits its sale (as radical as Chianti being banned in Tuscany)... Shouldn’t notions of freedom kick in, considering prohibition and its repeal being in the USA Constitution?
The situation is complicated by our federal form of government, which was designed to keep a balance of powers in order to preserve liberty.
In addition, "dry" counties often have numerous exemptions for private consumption of alcohol. Private possession of alcoholic beverages is likely legal, but commercial sale of them is prohibited. Some "dry" counties have the equivalent of "bars" which are private clubs where you keep your own alcohol and you are charged for the space to sit and drink it.