5. Purchase Alcohol in Regulated States

If you enjoy hosting dinner parties or keeping a well-stocked liquor cabinet, you might be interested in Costco’s highly rated Kirkland Signature wines and spirits. Thanks to state-level alcohol control laws dating back to the end of Prohibition, several states prohibit establishments from requiring a membership fee to purchase alcohol.

If you live in one of the following states, you can purchase alcohol at Costco without a membership:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New York
• Texas
• Vermont

To execute this transaction, approach the entrance and inform the greeter that you are purchasing alcohol under state law. You may need a manager to override the register at checkout, so it is best to politely remind the cashier before they begin scanning your items. Bear in mind that you cannot add a rotisserie chicken or a pair of jeans to your cart; the exemption applies strictly to alcohol.