Brits nip to the shop to buy milk. What do Americans buy?

[Fordian]

As in, we nip down the local Tesco metro to buy milk, bread, wine or beer.

What would an American nip down to buy?

And how far away is if?

Mine's a 2 minute drive.

Just joining thread as I love reading about mundane details of life in other countries, the more mundane the better.

I’m about 3 mins from a gas station with a “minute mart” type shop. Not walkable because there is no sidewalk and it’s a busy road. But it’s crappy so I’m more likely to drive the 7 minutes to the grocery.

For me it’s typically bread or milk. Canned green beans for my dog or some minor ingredient to go with dinner.

I still go to the grocery at least twice a week and also to the local farmers markets.

That's hilarious. Also true.

Oh, and I’m in a state that historically had no alcohol sales in the grocery and beer was only sold by the case by beer distributors, or in a bar for much higher prices and smaller quantities. Thankfully that has recently changed.

I still tend to go to the state run “fine wine and good spirits” store. DH still usually goes to the beer distributor. But having the option to grab it in the grocery is nice.

The liquor laws in the US are fun. Every state can be complete different than the next.

Other than guns, people here run to the convenience store for scratch tickets and rolling papers.

Who you hanging out with? 😂

Canned green beans for my dog

I am so intrigued by this comment. Your ddog feasts on green beans? I love it😂.

Here we run to the store, head out or pop out to pick up stuff. Closest store is 7min walk, 1-2 min drive. Booze is five min drive. Generally I'm running out for cheese or tea. Milk lasts for a month so always have back-up before it runs out (Lactose free).

The liquor laws in the US are fun. Every state can be complete different than the next.

I've known it to vary from county to county -- needing to cross the county line to buy liquor on a Sunday....

I’m in the U.K., a northerner by birth but live in the Midlands now. Our local shop is 1 minute walk away, and I “pop to the shop” to get gravy mix and Vimto most often as everything else I get delivered, including milk and bread. It is gravy mix I run out of as I forget to buy it, and we get thought gallons of vimto in our house.

She’s a yellow lab and scarfs her kibble so fast it would make your head spin. Vet recommended adding green beans as a low-cal healthy filler. I try to buy them by the case but it’s not always possible lately. And the prices are nuts. Used to be .53 cents a can. Right now they are .72 cents!

I live in Florida. We run to Publix. Well, DH does. I hate grocery shopping. It's usually for whatever we have run out of unexpectedly like coffee, bread, or half and half (coffee cream). It's about a 5-minute drive from our house. I think everyone in Florida lives within 5 minutes of a Publix.

Yep! I grew up in a state with no Sunday liquor sales. “Blue laws” and tons of dry counties. People would just go to the liquor store Saturday night.

Yes, what is striking me as a UK person is how far it seems to be for some people to get to a shop. Nearest big supermarket is 10 minutes' walk for me. Mostly 'pop' there for wine .

Or in some states where Sunday liquor sales are allowed, you can't buy liquor until 1:00 p.m. or so. Because people need to be in church on Sunday morning, not in the liquor store.

Not exactly the point of the thread, but my favourite activity by far when on holiday abroad is checking out the local supermarket.

Was recently on holiday with friends, one of whom suggested that they would go to the supermarket to do the shopping so I could chill by the pool. Soon put them right.

5 minute drive to buy milk and bread but really only shop once per week. Funny about the guns bye he bored do you go to buy knives and acid?

I love watching trader Joe's hauls on YouTube and people shopping for beauty products in America

I live in wet Midwest city, I have a couple of bars in my local supermarket.
I can buy a wine and shop while drinking it.

My next closest supermarket has a piano jazz bar, don't believe everything you read about the Midwest (although corn 🌽 on the cob is very cheap!)

Good tip to know thanks, black labs in our house😀. Yeah prices are crazy now sadly.

I've always lived in big cities in the US and never been more than a five minute walk from a store to pick up essentials like milk and bread. Normally coffee, beer and wine too and often fresh ready made meals to reheat.

Yes!
Australian bottle shops were fantastic when I lived there.
The Backpackers I stayed in used to take us all every night for our Carlton Cold and Cheap wine boxes.
Marvellous.

We don’t buy any of milk, bread, wine or beer! Vegan, gluten free and not drinking for IVF. Usually it’s due to running out of crisps, tofu, broccoli, edamame beans or vegan cheese. Last trip was for emergency covid tests - we all have it.

Run to the store. ~5 minutes drive or 15 minutes walk. Milk, bread, and eggs are the classic trio, always bought before a storm.

I am in an alcohol control county, so we have fewer liquor stores, and they are owned by the government. Pennsylvania was the worst. They liberalised it slightly so some supermarkets now sell beer & wine, but their system is:

• Wine & spirits are at the state store


• Cases of beer are from the beer distributor


• Six packs of beer are sold from places with carry-out licences, which in my town meant... the bowling alley.

Most Canadian provinces are alcohol control too and you need to buy wine & spirits from the provincial store.

@calmlakes I'd totally forgotten about the Kro-bar at my local Kroger, we used to meet up with friends for a glass of wine there pre covid. Sounds tragic but was actually pretty fun, must try it again soon!

Local corner shop 3 minute walk usually for bits like wine, bread etc but we have a smaller Tesco about a 6 min walk away, have just had a bottle of wine delivered 1.40am but this is my “tea time” no popping anywhere so ordering it is