In Texas they are legally required to sell you alcohol without the membership. They have a totally separate area with a different entrance for the liquor store in every Costco in Texas that I have been to. I tested the theory that they will have to let you in/sell it anyway in the main store because they still sell beer and wine in the main store. To give some context, in Texas, you can buy any beer/wine in a "grocery" store i.e. Costco, but hard liquors must only be sold from a licensed liquor store.
So with that in mind and without a Costco membership I loaded up on a case of beer and some wine only in the main store and took it to the checkout. They subsequently refused to check me out in the main store and sent me to the liquor store with the outside entrance.
I wonder what would have happened if I had tried to purchase beer or wine in the same fashion on Sunday (liquor stores must be closed on Sunday per Texas law, but selling beer/wine in grocery stores like Costco on Sundays is legal). I think they would have been legally required to sell me beer/wine in the main store if so, and even though they probably would have refused as before I believe if challenged/complained this practice of refusing to sell beer/wine to non-members inside the store would not be ruled legal by TABC (the state commission in Texas that governs alcohol sales).
It would be an interesting niche law to explore if you were interested in challenging Texas laws regarding sale of alcohol I guess.
So with that in mind and without a Costco membership I loaded up on a case of beer and some wine only in the main store and took it to the checkout. They subsequently refused to check me out in the main store and sent me to the liquor store with the outside entrance.
I wonder what would have happened if I had tried to purchase beer or wine in the same fashion on Sunday (liquor stores must be closed on Sunday per Texas law, but selling beer/wine in grocery stores like Costco on Sundays is legal). I think they would have been legally required to sell me beer/wine in the main store if so, and even though they probably would have refused as before I believe if challenged/complained this practice of refusing to sell beer/wine to non-members inside the store would not be ruled legal by TABC (the state commission in Texas that governs alcohol sales).
It would be an interesting niche law to explore if you were interested in challenging Texas laws regarding sale of alcohol I guess.