This must not hold true for all Costco/Sams. Our Costco’s liquor section is in the back of the store, and there is no separate enterance, thus you must be a member to purchase it. The same is true for the Sams that I’ve been in. Maybe it depends on the area?

By Grapthar’s hammer, what a savings.

Entertaining and having serious drinking going on can be VERY expensive. If a drunk guest is driving and kills someone, it can come back on you. Or if a drunk guest walks home and gets killed, which happens quite often (pedestrians who are killed by cars are more often than not drunk), it can come back on you.

And if any of the intoxicated guests are underage, you have a very good chance of ending up in jail. In fact, even if they aren’t intoxicated, underage drinkers can land you in jail, sued, and otherwise in really expensive trouble.

If you allow guests to become intoxicated, you had better be darned sure that you get their car keys as they come in, someone stays sober, and no drunk driving is allowed. In fact, prudence dictates that all intoxicated guests stay overnight in your home or arrange other transportation. That can save you a ton of legal bills.

Or, you can simply not allow drinking to the extent that people become intoxicated.

We have a lot of expensive liquors in our drinks collection, but only because my boyfriend knows how to appreciate a good drink. I have the alcohol tolerance of a gnat, so I just sniff.

But Sam’s doesn’t have a liquor area separate from the rest of the store. Not in a single store I’ve been to in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana. It is all right there with everything else.

I know definately that Sam’s Club has a liquor area separate from the rest of the club. Same building, but separate entrance where you don’t need a membership card to enter or purchase from. I would assume this applies to BJ’s and Costco as well.

Next, I want to say that price is not the sole indicator of quality. There are tons of good, cheap wines that taste better than pricier wines. Then again, taste is very subjective. What is tasty to someone, is vomit inducing to another. The key is to find what you like. You find you like $5 bottle of wines, great for you, you can drink more. You like the $20 bottle of win, then you drink less.

To me, alcohol is a luxury, so I will spend the money on what I like. No point in indulging if you’re not going all the way.

If you’re one of those people who can’t tell the difference between a good beer/wine/liquor and stuff that comes out of a plastic bottle, good for you. My mom can’t tell the difference between a New York Strip and a piece of bottom round. All I got to say is ignorance is bliss.

I personally start off with the good stuff, when I still can taste the alcohol, then switch to the cheap stuff after a few drinks.

I’m not sure what you are using as a basis for this claim, but my experience is quite the opposite.

For me (and all of the friends that come to mind), more expensive alcohol tends to go down smoother, have a more pleasant taste, and most importantly: lead to fewer, less intense hangovers the next day.

If you tend to get hangovers, it could be well worth paying for the more expensive quality liquors. Waking up without one more than makes up for the higher cost, if not simply because you feel better, but you’re likely to be more productive throughout the day.

The #1 way is to stop–but as you said, that is not a desirable option for many.

I particularly like and agree with the drink at home before going to the restuarant thing–those savings are huge.

Finally, when entertaining, if there will be some serious drinking going on, I usually buy a higher brand of beer/liquor for the beginning of the party, and something else for later. Honestly, after you’re feeling good, do you care if you need to switch to a cheaper beer or a well brand of liquor?

People actually tell me they love the idea.

I’ve never had a complaint yet–