# 3.2% alcohol beer in Coldorado grocery stores. Why 4.5% Smirnoff? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [August 9, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/3-2-alcohol-beer-in-coldorado-grocery-stores-why-4-5-smirnoff/90853 "2015-08-09T19:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/3-2-alcohol-beer-in-coldorado-grocery-stores-why-4-5-smirnoff/90853/1 "2015-08-09T19:59:11Z")
We counted on grocery store alcoholic beverages being maximum 3.2% alcohol. Just discovered that Smirnoff ICE Green Apple is 4.5% alcohol. How is that possible? Since I am on call 24/7, I dilute a glass of 3.2% beer to 1/2 beer, 1/2 water and ice cubes. (Interesting that Smirnoff’s “12-ounce bottle” is 11.2 ounces.) Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/3-2-alcohol-beer-in-coldorado-grocery-stores-why-4-5-smirnoff/90853/2 "2015-08-09T20:10:21Z")
This is a question for your state liquor regulatory agency. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/3-2-alcohol-beer-in-coldorado-grocery-stores-why-4-5-smirnoff/90853/3 "2015-08-09T20:11:25Z")
Why drink at all since you have to drive a vehicle? Smirnoff is a malt beverage and has more alcohol. It’s the nature of the beast because it’s not a beer. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/3-2-alcohol-beer-in-coldorado-grocery-stores-why-4-5-smirnoff/90853/4 "2015-08-09T20:19:47Z")
It looks like if it’s higher than 3.2%, they can sell it but they can’t call it “beer”, even if it tastes and looks exactly like beer. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/3-2-alcohol-beer-in-coldorado-grocery-stores-why-4-5-smirnoff/90853/5 "2015-08-09T20:21:06Z")
> _"Why drink at all since you have to drive a vehicle? Smirnoff is a malt beverage and has more alcohol. It's the nature of the beast because it's not a beer."_ It's **half** a bottle of 3.2% diluted to 50% water. Is delicious and refreshing and beer is _required_ with pizza. I thought nothing over 3.2% alcohol was allowed to be sold in grocery stores. No wine or liquor may be sold in Coldorado grocery stores. (Except ONE store of each company.) ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/3-2-alcohol-beer-in-coldorado-grocery-stores-why-4-5-smirnoff/90853/6 "2015-08-09T20:30:22Z")
Is that Smirnoff drink the ONLY beverage in the store that’s over the 3.2% limit usually found in Colorado supermarkets? If there are other products with alcohol content over 3.2% the store could have a regular liquor license or a Beer & Wine license allowing them to sell a broader range of alcoholic beverages… Back in the day, when Joe Coors was able to convince the Colorado legislature that 3.2% beer was a “non-intoxicating beverage” and 18 year olds should be able to legally purchase it, this is how grocery stores got into the beer business…They were allowed to sell 3.2% beer and they could sell it on Sundays…While 18 year olds can no longer buy 3.2% beer, the grocery stores continue to sell a lot of it, much to unsuspecting customers who don’t know or care that it’s “light beer”… ---
**Author:** ![cdaquila](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cdaquila/32/18089_2.png) [@cdaquila](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cdaquila)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/3-2-alcohol-beer-in-coldorado-grocery-stores-why-4-5-smirnoff/90853/7 "2015-08-09T20:32:23Z")
Oy, Robert, you’re scaring me a little. Big +1 to @missileman, and I’m going to close this because it’s off topic. But be careful out there.