5 Unusual Businesses Selling Alcohol

When Starbucks announced it would start serving craft beer and wine along with their caffeine, it made a certain amount of sense -- after all, you might need a shot or two of booze to counteract all those shots of espresso. (The coffee giant has since ended the practice, but our point still stands.)

Plenty of businesses have been branching out into booze sales lately, but these five might be the oddest stores in which to get sloshed.

1. Target

We know Target sells everything, so of course they have some 6- and 12-packs to go. But a Chicago-area store recently applied for two liquor licenses: a Package Goods license and a Consumption on Premises liquor license. So you soon may be able to sip some suds while you shop.

2. Fast Food Joints

Chicago also birthed the first boozy Taco Bell, and Burger King added some beers to its "Whopper Bars." And while McDonald's has been selling spirits in its overseas stores, it has yet to bring alcohol sales stateside.

3. Barber Shops and Beauty Salons

A little champagne with a pedicure has long been a practice at upscale salons, and old school barber shops have been adding shots to their cuts in recent years. A little bourbon or bubbly can go a long way with customers while they wait or sit, as long as the staff isn't also imbibing.

4. Whole Foods

The natural and organic food supermarket chain has long had a good rep when it comes to its beer and wine selection. But you may not have known you can fill up a 64-ounce container to go at one of their "Growler Stations," or that some locations have craft beer on tap if you're looking for a pre- or post-shopping quaff.

5. The Gym

Anyone who's suffered through a long, hard workout knows how delicious a celebratory drink can be, which makes it a bit surprising that its taken this long for gyms and fitness centers to add booze to their menus. So don't forget to add some 12-oz. curls to the end of your workout regimen.

Alcohol laws can vary depending on where you do business, so check with a local attorney before adding booze to your office or menu.

Related Resources:

• Find Business & Commercial Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• Do Employers Have to 'Accommodate' Alcoholic Workers? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
• Alcohol at Company Parties: When to Say 'When'? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
• Is It Legal to Serve Alcohol If You're Under 21? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)