The sale of alcohol in Britain is strictly controlled by licensing laws. These restrict where, when and by whom alcohol may be sold. In order to open a pub or wine bar the owner must obtain the approval of the local magistrates who must be satisfied that he or she is a suitable person to sell alcohol. If the application is approved the owner obtains a license to sell alcohol and becomes the license. The name of the licensee is displayed above the front door. If magistrates are not happy with the way a pub is being run they can cancel the license. The name of the licensee is displayed above the front door. If magistrates are not happy with the way a pub is being run they can cancel the license.
　　Many pubs are licensed to sell alcohol for drinking on or off the premises. However, most people buy alcohol for drinking at home in a supermarket or an off-license. Shops and supermarket have to get a license, called on off-license before they can sell alcohol. Nobody under 18 is allowed to buy alcohol, either in a pub or in shop.
　　Pubs are only allowed to sell alcohol during official opening hours. They are allowed to remain open all day from 11a.m. to 11p.m. though many close in the afternoon. If they wish to stay open after 11p.m., they must obtain a special late license pubs open for a shorter time on Sundays, and in some parts of Wales they are closed altogether.
　　In the US, there are local laws about when and where alcohol can be sold. Some towns are dry, i.e., no alcohol can be sold there at all. In general, restaurants and bars need a license to sell beer and wine. In some states alcohol for drinking at home is sold only in special liquor stores; in other places it is sold in any food shop. There are fewer restrictions on when alcohol can be sold than there are in Britain, and bars can stay open very late. The most common restriction is that alcohol may not be sold early on Sunday mornings.
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　　在英國經營酒是受酒類專賣法嚴格控制的。在哪賣，什么時間賣，由誰賣，都有嚴格的規定。想要開酒吧或是葡萄酒吧，老板必須要得到地方官員的同意，而地方官員要覺得這個人合適才會同意他/她經營酒類。如果申請批準了，老板拿到營業執照并成為執照持有人，他的名字就會被貼在正門上。一旦地方官員不滿意此人的經營方式，他就會被吊銷執照。
　　在很多有執照的酒吧，客人可以在店里喝酒也可以買酒帶走。但是，很多人在超市或者賣酒執照的商店買酒回家去喝。商店和超市都必須拿到營業執照，在準許賣酒之前他們要申請賣酒經營執照。不管是在酒吧還是在商店，18歲以下的人都不準買酒。
　　酒吧只能在官方規定的營業時間賣酒，可以從上午11點開到晚上11點，但是很多酒吧在下午就關門了。如果想到在晚上11點仍然營業的話就需要一個特殊的夜間營業執照。酒吧在禮拜天的營業時間一般很短，在威爾士的一些地方，酒吧在禮拜天不營業。
　　在美國，賣酒的時間和地點也受地方法律的限制。一些城鎮根本不允許賣酒。通常情況下，餐館和酒吧需要有執照才可以賣啤酒和葡萄酒。在有些州，家里喝的酒只能在酒類專賣店才能買得到;而在其他地方，任何食品商店里都可以買得到酒。美國酒類經營店的營業時間比起英國要寬松的多，酒吧也可以營業到很晚。兩國最相近的規定是都不可以在禮拜天早上賣酒。