CORINNE： Wow！ It's 8：45. If we want to buy some beer， we should go now.
ALEX： Why？ The party doesn't start until 10：30.
CORINNE： Yes. But the liquor1 stores sTOP selling alcohol2 at 9：00.
ALEX： Really？ All the liquor stores？
CORINNE： Yes. It's a state law.
ALEX： You mean you can't buy beer after 9：00？
CORINNE： That's right.
ALEX： How strange！ Why is there a law like that？
CORINNE： I don't like it either.
But I guess a lot of Americans want to regulate3 drinking.
They don't think it's good if people buy alcohol late at night.
ALEX： But the bars4 are still open after 9：00. So people could just go to the bars.
CORINNE： Of course. They can drink in the bars.
But they can't buy beer at the bars and carry it outside.
ALEX： Is that true？
CORINNE： It's true. It's against the law.
And the bars must close at 1：30 am. If they stay open later， they could get fined.
ALEX： That's silly. That's too early.
CORINNE： I agree. Sometimes I think the government here treats people like children.
ALEX： I'm really surprised. I thought America was the land of the free.
But you aren't even free to buy beer when you want.
CORINNE： There was a time in American history when alcohol was even illegal5.
ALEX： I know. I read about it.
CORINNE： So I think the laws today reflect6 that old attitude7.
Many people think alcohol is bad. And they think the government should control it.
ALEX： Wait a minute. You said you can't buy beer at a liquor store after 9：00.
CORINNE： That's right.
ALEX： But what about Seven-Elevens.
I saw a Seven-Eleven near your apartment， and they sell beer there.
And they are open 24 hours.
CORINNE： At 9：00， they have to put a lock on the beer cooler.
So even at a Seven-Eleven， you have to buy beer before 9：00.
ALEX： What a strange law！
CORINNE： I agree. Sometimes I think there are too many laws here.
ALEX： So let's hurry and buy the beer. Before it's too late.
CORINNE： Alright， let's go.
可琳恩：哇！八點四十五分了，假如大家要買啤酒的話，目前該走了。
亞歷斯：為何？派對十點半才開始。
可琳恩：是的，可是酒店九點過后就不賣酒了。
亞歷斯：是不是真的？所有些酒店嗎？
可琳恩：是的，這是州政府的法律。
亞歷斯：你是指九點將來不可以買酒？
可琳恩：沒錯。
亞歷斯：好奇怪！為何有那樣的法律？
可琳恩：我也不喜歡。
我猜是不少美國人想管制喝酒。
他們覺得太晚買酒是不好的。
亞歷斯：但夜店九點將來還是開的啊，所以只須去夜店就好了。
可琳恩：當然他們可以在夜店喝酒。
但不可以在夜店買酒外帶。
亞歷斯：是不是真的？
可琳恩：是真的，這是違反法律的。
而且夜店需要在一點半關門，假如超出營業時間，就會被罰款。
亞歷斯：好蠢喔，那樣太早了。
可琳恩：我贊同。有時我覺得這兒的政府把人民當作孩子。
亞歷斯：我真的非常驚訝，我以為美國是塊自由之地，
但你們連買啤酒都不自由。
可琳恩：在美國歷史上酒甚至一度是非法的。
亞歷斯：我了解，我讀過。
可琳恩：所以我覺得如今的法律反映出舊有些態度。
不少人覺得酒是不好的，而且政府應該管制。
亞歷斯：等等，你說九點將來在酒店買不到酒。
可琳恩：沒錯。
亞歷斯：那樣 7-11店呢？
我看過你家附近有一家7-11店，那兒有賣啤酒。
而且是24小時的。
可琳恩：一到九點，他們需要把啤酒的冰箱鎖起來。
所以即使是在7-11店，你也需要在九點以前買啤酒。
亞歷斯：好奇怪的法律！
可琳恩：我贊同。有時我感覺這兒的規章太多。
亞歷斯：那樣大家快去買啤夜店，免得太晚。
可琳恩：好，走吧。