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！八点四十五分了，如果我们要买啤酒的话，现在该走了。

    亚历斯：为什么？派对十点半才开始。

    可琳恩：是的，可是酒店九点过后就不卖酒了。

    亚历斯：真的吗？所有的酒店吗？

    可琳恩：是的，这是州政府的法律。

    亚历斯：你是指九点以后不能买酒？

    可琳恩：没错。

    亚历斯：好奇怪！为什么有那样的法律？

    可琳恩：我也不喜欢。

    我猜是很多美国人想管制喝酒。

    他们认为太晚买酒是不好的。

    亚历斯：但是酒吧九点以后还是开的啊，所以只要去酒吧就好了。

    可琳恩：当然他们可以在酒吧喝酒。

    但是不能在酒吧买酒外带。

    亚历斯：真的吗？

    可琳恩：是真的，这是违反法律的。

    而且酒吧必须在一点半关门，如果超出营业时间，就会被罚款。

    亚历斯：好蠢喔，那样太早了。

    可琳恩：我同意。有时我认为这儿的政府把人民当作小孩。

    亚历斯：我真的很惊讶，我以为美国是块自由之地，

    但是你们连买啤酒都不自由。

    可琳恩：在美国历史上酒甚至一度是非法的。

    亚历斯：我知道，我读过。

    可琳恩：所以我认为现今的法律反映出旧有的态度。

    很多人认为酒是不好的，而且政府应该管制。

    亚历斯：等等，你说九点以后在酒店买不到酒。

    可琳恩：没错。

    亚历斯：那么 7-11店呢？

    我看过你家附近有一家7-11店，那儿有卖啤酒。

    而且是24小时的。

    可琳恩：一到九点，他们必须把啤酒的冰箱锁起来。

    所以即便是在7-11店，你也必须在九点以前买啤酒。

    亚历斯：好奇怪的法律！

    可琳恩：我同意。有时我觉得这儿的规章太多。

    亚历斯：那么我们快去买啤酒吧，免得太晚。

    可琳恩：好，走吧。

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