I think it’s horrifying that if I lived in some counties in the U.S. I wouldn’t be able to purchase a bottle of alcohol at the local supermarket. I’d have to drive to another county to do that, because where I’d live would be known as a “dry” county.
I used to think they were something of the past, or some cruel joke used to put down states you didn’t like. However, after joining the military and making friends with people from all over the country, I found out the nightmare was true.
Dry counties exist. They’re not just figments of some horrible person’s imagination. When I learned about dry counties, it gave me another reason to miss my home state of Arizona.
The liquor laws are awesome.
Seriously, I can’t get over it. I can buy booze seven days a week, starting at 6 a.m. Even on Sundays, which is just unheard of in places like Minnesota, where you have to drive one state over to stock the fridge. Places like Kentucky ban all sales of alcohol on election days.
But Arizona? For all the (mostly deserved) negative press the state gets for it’s various legislation, it doesn’t get enough praise for being a place where a hard working American can buy a drink.
With that in mind, these are some of my favorite places to celebrate Arizona’s liquor freedom.
Q and Brew
Located on Mill and Southern in Tempe, a couple miles south of the main campus, rests “Tempe’s Oldest Pool Hall." The younger crowd is usually obsessed with Cue Club, but I actually hate the crowds and music if all I’m looking to do is relax with a drink and cheap pool. I mean cheap, too. You can get games for a few corners. The atmosphere is pretty dive-y, but I like that too. It reminds me that bars exist to sell alcohol, not to necessarily sexualize the game of pool.
How dive-y? One time I saw an old man who looked like Santa wearing a sleeveless shirt. The shirt said “Jail Sucks." So, your call.
The Handlebar
The Handlebar is a great place to hang out during the day, with it’s bountiful shade, great beer list and expansive patio. Their beer cocktails are great, too, and the atmosphere is fun. I’ve never had a bad time there, but like most of Mill, I tend to avoid it at night or on the weekends. There’s something about loud bars that was so appealing to 21-year-old me that I can’t stand anymore at 25.
Valley Bar
It’s hip, it’s underground and the door is in an alley. It’s Valley Bar. It’s a great bar located in downtown Phoenix that’s half bar, half live music venue. It’s got a great drink list with cocktails named after famous Phoenicians and it’s got a creepy collage paying homage to the infamous “Trunk Murders” that happened in the early '30s. Plus, it’s got a shuffleboard table and it’s the only one I’ve been able to find downtown so far.
Angel’s Trumpet Alehouse
Another great spot located near the Downtown Phoenix campus, Angel’s Trumpet is all about beer, with a lot of different tap choices. The fish tacos are awesome, and the happy hour includes cheap local draft beers so it’s one of my favorite places to “study” between classes. It also has a great patio with ample seating and is right next to other great Phoenix places like Matt’s Big Breakfast.
Cobra Arcade Bar
This is a bar I’ve only gotten out to a couple of times because it’s so new. However, there are few things I don’t like about free-to-play classic arcade games and bomb drinks. The place is literally filled with arcade machines and you’ll be sure to find an old favorite, whether that’s Rampage, Galaga or Pac Man.
I also happened to go when the Paz Cantina food truck was parked outside, so it was an exceptionally amazing night.
Bitter and Twisted
Bitter and Twisted is hands-down my most recommended bar in Phoenix. If you love expertly made craft cocktails, than look no further. The drink menu is a literal book, with options ranging from the classic Old Fashioned to whatever bars in Britain are serving now. A wall full of obscure and vintage spirits and a no-nonsense attitude about great drinks makes this my favorite bar in the Valley.
Arizona has some of the most lax laws for consuming liquor in the country, and I think it's a great way to preserve personal freedoms. I don't need someone telling me that as an adult over 21, I can't drink to calm the stress wrought by Election Day. For as much as Arizona can get wrong, I think it's important to celebrate what it gets right.
Reach the columnist at cjwood3@asu.edu or follow @chriswood_311 on Twitter.
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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