My appreciation for alcohol is not a secret. I've been a one-drink-a-day lady since my
six month stint in London when I realized I could legally drink at 20. The problem is unless you live next to a winery like the fabulous
Bea Johnson (give me a moment while I fume with envy) or can regularly drink a growler of beer before it goes flat (within 36 hours), alcohol is difficult to purchase without a massive amount of packaging.
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Taking advantage of Lucky's "Sip and Stroll"
shopping technique.
Photo by Michaela McGinn |
Sure, you
could order a cocktail at a bar and
try to ask them for no straw or coaster or umbrella without sounding like a stuck up princess and then
hope they actually listen to you and bring you a zero waste drink, then shell out $15+ before realizing your glass is 99% juice or tonic water and 1% actual alcohol.
Or you could go to Lucky's and order a pint of locally brewed beer for...
(wait for it...)
ONLY $2.00
Of course, I usually opt for their $4 glasses of wine instead, but still. They even give you nifty little holders to attach to your cart!
I'm sure the reason they're able to afford selling alcohol so cheaply is due to some algorithmic proof that drunk people spend more money at your store. Also (if they're not terrible people), customers spend a longer time in your store while they sober up enough to drive home.
I like to think of it as a mutual symbiotic relationship. Plus, cheap booze is a great way to
trick your friends into going grocery shopping with you.
How to Find Your Lucky's
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Begin Your Adventure!
Photo by Michaela McGinn |
Disclaimer: Like any self help article about true love, my advice will be flawed.
My friends and I refer to Lucky's as the happiest place on Earth, so there's a chance you won't be able to find an exact replica if you don't live in St. Louis or a city with a Lucky's branch. But if you're set on leaving Whole Foods by the wayside, there's still hope!
Talk to People About Where They Buy Their Groceries
It's probably not going to come up naturally, so dive right into a just-so-slightly-less-than-awkward conversation about your neighbors' or co-workers' buying habits. I heard about Lucky's from my carpooling buddy long before I'd ever heard of the Zero Waste Movement. It stuck in my brain long enough for me to check it out, and the rest is history.
Follow Foodies in Your Hometown
They know where the good stuff is. And if they don't, you're now entitled to viciously troll them as posers. I use
Instagram and an array of local food magazines like
Sauce. Then just trial and error your way through your options til you find The One.
Don't Settle Until You've Exhausted All Other Avenues
If I had never put in the effort, I'd still be one of the snotty customers at Whole Foods.