Primer on Liquor Law Vocabulary

On-premises – place where alcohol is sold at retail to be consumed at the establishment (restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, casinos, and BYOB establishments)

Off-premises – place where alcohol is sold at retail to be consumed elsewhere (liquor store, wine store, grocery store, drug store, and beverage centers (wholesale beer “C” licensees))

Damp states allow possession of alcohol but not sale of it.

Moist counties are dry counties where some towns and villages allow some retail sale of alcohol: For example, some counties do not allow liquor stores but do allow restaurants to serve alcohol.

Wet state-allows sale of alcohol.

Dry state-does not allow sale of alcohol; may not even allow possession of alcohol