2007-04-03 03:10:07 · 3 answers · asked by Mangesh 1 in Travel ➔ United Kingdom ➔ Other - United Kingdom
It's a store that's licensed to sell intoxicating liquor (alcohol) for consumption off the premised - unlike a pub, bar, hotel, restaurant which (in many cases) is licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises.
Most off licenses are general grocery stores but there are some that specialise in alcohol. Often an off license is referred to as an 'offy'.
2007-04-03 03:22:56 · answer #1 · answered by Trevor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The previous answers are correct in the meaning of off license, it's a shop licenced to sell alcohol and tobacco.
In the old days off licenses (pl noun) used to be next door to pubs and under the same license as the pub it was joined to, thats where the name originates - it was like a side take-out window of a pub. Obviously now they are very different and most are grocery shops and news agents.
2007-04-03 12:46:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there, it basically means means the shop/store is allowed to sell alcohol to be consumed off premises as opposed to buying and consuming it within a restaurant or bar. it's a bit like a take-away-only shop and a pub or restaurant. they sell the same type of thing i.e food but the consumer is consuming in a different way. The term is also used for the licence itself.
Hope that clarifies things!
2007-04-03 10:24:38 · answer #3 · answered by What's the point? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋