Fair correction, I apparently merged the laws about beer and liquor/wine in my mind. Beer in quantities larger than 12 packs comes from distributors which are regulated more than bottle shops but aren't state run, while it's liquor and wine that needed to come from state shops.
No worries. It’s been in flux over the past decade. A few of the major grocery chains pushed to change the laws so they could sell beer and wine under a certain ABV. It has to be in a dedicated area and they can only sell during certain hours.
The state shops themselves aren’t all that horrible IMO but they’re nothing to write home about either. That being said It’s pretty hard to screw up liquor sales when you’re the only game in town.
