Feature · State rules
Your licence sets the rules. The register keeps them.
Every state, county and emirate is different. Instead of pretending to know yours, Bottle Shop POS gives you switches for the rules that matter at the counter, and keeps the record.
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Store 2 · rule switches
- Age prompt · SpiritsOn
- Age prompt · Wine & beerOn
- Deposit · beer cansOn
- Case discount · Store 2Off
- Loyalty on spiritsOff
- Manager overrideOn
Does the software make my store compliant?
No, and be wary of any POS that says it does. Compliance comes from your licence conditions, your staff and your habits. What the software does is make the compliant action the default one, block the obvious mistakes and leave a record you can show.
The table below lists the rule types liquor retailers run into most, what Bottle Shop POS gives you for each, and what stays your job. Rules change; check them with your own state agency.
Rule types and software switches
| Rule type | What the software gives you | What stays your job |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum purchase age | Age prompt per category; cut-off date shown | Set the age (21 in the US) and train staff to check IDs |
| Container deposits | Deposit added per container, own receipt line, deposit report | Enter the amounts your state sets and file any returns required |
| Quantity discounts / minimum prices | Discount rules on or off per store; posted case prices | Know whether your state allows them for each product type |
| Sale hours | Register access by role and schedule | Open only when your licence allows |
| Excise and sales tax | Tax rates and tax groups per location and product | Enter the correct rates; your accountant files the returns |
| Record keeping | Sales, purchase and adjustment history with exports | Keep records for as long as your state requires |
| Who may sell alcohol | Staff roles and permissions, per store | Meet any age or training rules for employees |
United States: three facts every owner should know
- The purchase age is 21 nationwide. Set by the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984; enforcement and penalties are state matters.
- 17 states are control states. In some, spirits are sold only through state stores or agents, per NABCA. Private stores there may carry only wine and beer, or only certain strengths.
- 10 states have deposit laws. CA, CT, HI, IA, ME, MA, MI, NY, OR and VT. Amounts and covered containers differ.
United Arab Emirates
Alcohol retail is licensed by each emirate, and the outlet holds its own licence (for example from the Dubai licensing authority). Rules differ between emirates, and some emirates do not permit alcohol retail at all. We sell this edition only to licensed retailers. VAT at 5% is included in displayed prices.
Sources: NABCA control state directory · Container Recycling Institute · TTB · UAE Federal Tax Authority. Checked 18 October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
FAQ
State rules questions
No. 01Can a POS keep my liquor store compliant?
A POS can make the right behaviour the default and keep records, but it cannot hold or interpret your licence. Bottle Shop POS gives you switches for age prompts, deposits, discounts and staff permissions; you set them to the rules your state, county and licence impose, and you stay responsible for following them.
No. 02What are control states?
Control states are states where the government controls the wholesale or retail sale of some alcohol, usually spirits. NABCA lists 17 control states plus some local jurisdictions. In some of them spirits are sold only in state-run or state-contracted stores, which changes what a private retailer can stock.
No. 03Which states have bottle deposits?
10 states run container-deposit laws: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon and Vermont. The covered containers and amounts differ, and some include wine or spirits bottles while others cover only beer and soft drinks.
No. 04How do deposits show on the receipt?
A deposit is added per container as its own line, so a case adds it once per bottle or can. Your deposit report shows totals collected for the period.
No. 05Can I stop sales outside legal hours?
Sale hours are set by state and local law. Staff roles control who can sign in and sell, and you can restrict register access to opening hours by role. Keep your opening hours within what your licence allows.
No. 06Are quantity discounts allowed everywhere?
No. Some states restrict volume discounts, coupons or loyalty rewards on alcohol, or set minimum retail prices. Discount rules can be turned off per store, and loyalty can exclude categories, so each store can follow its own state.
No. 07What about selling to someone already intoxicated?
That is a judgement for trained staff, covered by your licence and responsible-service training. The POS lets a cashier refuse a sale and logs the refusal; it cannot judge intoxication.
No. 08Do you give legal advice?
No. We explain how the software maps to common rule types and link primary sources. For your situation, ask your state alcohol beverage control agency or a lawyer.
No. 09How does this work in the UAE?
Licensed outlets follow the conditions of their own licence from their emirate. The same switches apply: age prompts, staff permissions and VAT-inclusive pricing. We do not sell to unlicensed businesses.
Set the switches to your licence.
Start the trial and walk through the rule settings with us on a demo. We will show you each one on your own catalogue.
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