Noah Vinter
In Massachusetts, a liquor store is known as a packie, short for package store. The term is also used in other parts of New England, and in the Carolinas. The origin of the term is disputed. Some sources claim that it arose from laws requiring liquor to be packaged discreetly in nondescript, brown paper after being sold. However, food historian Robert F. Moss refutes this, noting that there are no state laws requiring such packaging. Moss instead attributes the term to legal twists and dodges, such as the original package store loophole that entrepreneurs in the late 1800s and early 1900s used to get around liquor laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| States where the term is used | Massachusetts, South Carolina, New England |
| Other names for liquor stores in other states | ABC store (North Carolina), red dot store (South Carolina), party store (Michigan), state store (Pennsylvania) |
| Origin of the term | A 19th-century loophole in liquor laws allowed the sale of alcohol in its "original package" |
| Etymology of "packie" | Short for "package store" |
| Alternative etymology | The Boston Brahmins wanted drinking to be discreet, so they mandated that liquor be packaged discreetly in nondescript, brown paper |
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What You'll Learn
- The term packie is short for package store
- Package store originated from the term original package store
- The original package store was a term used to describe stores that sold alcohol in its original packaging
- The term package store is also used in other states, including the Carolinas and New England
- The term packie is unique to Massachusetts and certain bordering states
The term packie is short for package store
The term "packie" is a shortened version of the word "package store". It is a slang term used in Massachusetts and certain parts of states bordering Massachusetts, such as Rhode Island and New Hampshire, to refer to a liquor store. The term originated in the late 1800s and early 1900s when entrepreneurs found a loophole in liquor laws. During this time, some distillers shipped liquor bottles loose in rail cars packed with sawdust to comply with the law. A federal court ruling in 1897 clarified the rules for states that allowed alcohol sales, like Massachusetts, and the court's opinion used the "original package store" wording. After Prohibition, when states revised liquor laws, many included the "original package store" rule to protect consumers from watered-down products.
The term "packie" is also used in parts of Rhode Island and New Hampshire, where there has been settlement from Massachusetts, and in certain areas of Iowa and Kansas, which had similar liquor laws. Interestingly, while South Carolina also uses the term "package store", residents are more likely to refer to liquor stores as red dot stores due to the three red dots commonly found on their signs.
The slang term "packie" is believed to have originated from the desire of Boston Brahmins for discreet drinking. They allegedly used their influence to pass laws requiring liquor to be packaged discreetly in nondescript, brown paper after being sold. However, food historian Robert F. Moss disputes this origin story, arguing that it does not explain the use of the term in South Carolina, where the Brahmins had no influence.
The term "packie" is unique to Massachusetts and the aforementioned bordering states, with different slang terms for liquor stores being used in other states. For example, in North Carolina, it is called the "ABC store", while in Pennsylvania, it is referred to as the "state store", and in Michigan, residents make runs to the "party store".
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Package store originated from the term original package store
The term "package store" originated from the term "original package store". In the late 1800s and early 1900s, entrepreneurs found a loophole in liquor laws that allowed them to sell liquor in its original package. This loophole was exploited by store owners in Iowa, Kansas, and other dry states, who shipped liquor bottles loose in rail cars packed with sawdust to meet the letter of the law. They believed that boxing the bottles would make the box, not the bottle, the "original package".
The term "original package store" was further solidified by an 1897 federal court ruling that used this wording to clarify the rules for states that allowed alcohol sales, such as Massachusetts and South Carolina. The term "package store" stuck, even after Prohibition, when states revised their liquor laws to protect consumers by requiring liquor to be sold in its original packaging. This prevented store owners from watering down the product when transferring it to bottles.
The term "package store" is still used today in various parts of the country, including the Carolinas and New England, where it is often shortened to the "packie" or "packy". In Massachusetts, the term "packie" is specifically used to refer to liquor stores, and it is believed that this slang term originated from the desire to have drinking be discreet. The story goes that the Boston Brahmins used their influence to pass laws requiring liquor to be packaged discreetly in nondescript, brown paper after it was sold. However, food historian Robert F. Moss disputes this origin story, noting that it does not explain the use of the term in South Carolina, where the Brahmins had no influence over lawmakers.
Instead, Moss suggests that the term "package store" has its roots in the South Carolina Dispensary, an early experiment in state-controlled sales of alcoholic beverages. During this period, only the state government could sell alcohol in South Carolina, and all saloons, hotel bars, and retail liquor stores had to close their doors. The term "package store" thus emerged during this unique period in the state's history.
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The original package store was a term used to describe stores that sold alcohol in its original packaging
The term "package store" or "packie" is unique to the U.S. state of Massachusetts, with the exception of some parts of neighbouring states that border it. In Massachusetts, the term "packie" is used as slang for a liquor store, and it is short for "package store".
The concept of selling liquor in its "original package" was incorporated into many states' laws after Prohibition to prevent retailers from buying bulk spirits and repackaging them, which could lead to the product being watered down or adulterated. The term "original package store" was also used to describe stores that sold alcohol in the same bottles or packages in which they received them from out-of-state wholesalers. These stores popped up in Iowa and Kansas, which were dry states at the time, right after the Leisy v. Hardin ruling in 1890. This ruling held that no state could confiscate property that Congress recognized as being legally imported into that state. However, Congress swiftly shut down these stores with the Wilson Act, also known as the Original Packages Act, which made it illegal to transport alcohol across state lines.
The term "package store" survived Prohibition in some states like Connecticut, Massachusetts, and South Carolina, where it is still used today to refer to liquor stores.
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The term package store is also used in other states, including the Carolinas and New England
The term "package store" is used in several states across the US, including the Carolinas and New England. In North Carolina, liquor stores are called ABC stores, named after the state Alcoholic Beverage Control commission that operates them. In South Carolina, they are referred to as "red dot stores" because most liquor stores in the state display three red dots on their signs.
The term "package store" has its roots in the early 1800s when several states attempted to ban alcohol with statewide prohibitions. In 1827, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Maryland law requiring businesses that imported and sold alcohol and other goods "by bale or package" to obtain a license from the state was unconstitutional. Following this ruling, original package stores began to open in prohibition states, selling alcohol in its original packaging.
After the Leisy v. Hardin case in 1890, which ruled that states could not confiscate legally imported alcohol, "original package stores" also opened in Iowa and Kansas. These stores sold beer and whiskey in the same packages they were received from out-of-state wholesalers. The term "package store" survived Prohibition in Connecticut, parts of New England, and the Carolinas. After Prohibition, many states incorporated the concept of selling liquor in its original package into their laws to prevent retailers from watering down the product.
Today, the term "package store" is often shortened to "packy" or "packie" in New England, especially in Massachusetts and parts of neighbouring states.
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The term packie is unique to Massachusetts and certain bordering states
The term "packie", short for package store, is unique to Massachusetts and certain bordering states. The term is used to refer to liquor stores or retailers that sell alcoholic beverages. While the exact origins of the term are debated, it is believed to be related to historical liquor laws and regulations.
One common explanation for the term "packie" is the notion that certain states wanted to prevent citizens from being seen carrying liquor bottles on the street. As a result, it is claimed that these states mandated that liquor stores sell their products in nondescript packages or brown paper bags. However, this explanation has been disputed by food historian Robert F. Moss, who argues that there are no state laws requiring such packaging.
The real origin of the term "package store" may be rooted in historical legal challenges and loopholes in liquor laws during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Following the Leisy v. Hardin case in 1890, which affirmed the right to sell alcohol in its "original packaging", entrepreneurs in dry states like Iowa and Kansas opened "original package stores". These stores sold alcohol in the original bottles or packages they were received in from wholesalers, complying with the letter of the law.
After the Wilson Act of 1890, also known as the Original Packages Act, rendered these original package stores illegal, a 1897 federal court ruling clarified the rules for states that allowed alcohol sales, such as Massachusetts and South Carolina. The court's opinion used the "original package store" wording, and the name "package store" stuck, especially in states that revised their liquor laws after prohibition to require the sale of liquor in its original packaging.
While the term "package store" is used in various parts of the country, including the Carolinas and New England, it is notably prevalent and shortened to "packie" specifically in Massachusetts and neighbouring states. This may be due to the influence of the Boston Brahmins, who, according to local folklore, advocated for discreet drinking and the packaging of liquor in nondescript, brown paper bags. However, as Moss points out, this does not explain the use of the term in states like South Carolina, where the Brahmins had no influence.
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Frequently asked questions
The term "packie" is short for "package store", which is believed to have originated from a series of federal court rulings in the early 1800s. One such ruling, in 1827, required alcohol to be sold in its "original packaging". Another ruling in 1890, in the case of Leisy v. Hardin, held that alcohol could not be confiscated by states as long as it was in its "original package". This led to the opening of "original package stores" in Iowa and Kansas, which sold alcohol in the packages they were received in from wholesalers. The term "package store" later spread to other states, including Massachusetts, where it was shortened to "packie".
While the term "packie" is most commonly associated with Massachusetts, it is also used in certain parts of states bordering Massachusetts, such as New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Additionally, the term "package store" is used in various parts of the country, including the Carolinas and other parts of New England, where it is sometimes shortened to “packy".
In the US, retail stores that sell liquor go by many different names depending on the region. For example, in North Carolina, they are called "ABC stores", in Pennsylvania, they are "state stores", in Michigan, they are "party stores", and in South Carolina, they are often referred to as "red dot stores" due to the three red dots commonly found on liquor store signs.
There is a common belief that the term "packie" originated from an effort to make drinking more discreet in Massachusetts. The story goes that the Boston Brahmins used their influence to pass laws requiring liquor to be packaged discreetly in nondescript, brown paper bags. However, food historian Robert F. Moss disputes this origin story, noting that it does not explain the use of the term "package store" in states like South Carolina, where the Brahmins had no influence. Instead, Moss suggests that the term is related to the legal history of alcohol sales, including the "original package" rulings of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
