Jacob Grier on Beer Cocktail Bans and Other Stupid Booze Laws
Is it legal to mix beer and spirits together into the same cocktail, as bartenders have been doing for centuries? In 49 states, the answer is unequivocally yes. But in Virginia, a state known for having some of the nation's most restrictive alcohol laws, the answer is a little more complicated, leaving bartenders, imbibers, and even state legislators confused as to whether combining a shot of whiskey and a pint of beer in one glass will bring down the heavy hand of the state's Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Welcome to the opaque world of American alcohol laws.