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Topic: [2014-04-30] Wired - Ohio Bans Buying Booze With Bitcoin (Read 555 times)

hero member
Activity: 697
Merit: 501
Why cant I Buy beer With Bitcoin?
Because the IRS said bitcoin is classified as property.   And in Ohio, I guess you aren't allowed to sell booze for anything but recognized currencies.

The official statement is posted above.  Read it and bow down to the powers that be.
newbie
Activity: 48
Merit: 0
Why cant I Buy beer With Bitcoin?
hero member
Activity: 798
Merit: 500
Time is on our side, yes it is!
Seems like a petty fight to me.  I don't really give a hoot if it is banned for such a silly reason and pretty sure for the most part others don't care at this time.
legendary
Activity: 2100
Merit: 1040
A Great Time to Start Something!
"It’s an odd ruling. Other states let you buy beer with bitcoin. We checked with California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, for example, and they told us that it’s no problem to accept bitcoin for booze in California"

California is now Land of the Free..? .....LOL?
This will get confusing as all 50 states make different rulings regarding BTC.
hero member
Activity: 697
Merit: 501
A snapshot of what needs fixing in that country. Silly.
hero member
Activity: 686
Merit: 500
WANTED: Active dev to fix & re-write p2pool in C
Land of the free police state.
sr. member
Activity: 868
Merit: 250
Ohio still in prohibition?
legendary
Activity: 4298
Merit: 3209
There is an update to the Wired article:

Quote
Update: April 30; 5:10 p.m. Pacific

After our story published, Eric Wolf, of the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s investigative unit, sent us the following email, which suggests that Bencheck may be able to accept bitcoins — if he’s willing to go to court.

This is our statement referring to bitcoins. No further information or comments will be provided.

The state of Ohio has not taken a position regarding the use of bitcoins. Rather, in keeping with guidance
from the IRS that bitcoins are a form of “property” and not “currency” for tax purposes, the Ohio
Investigative Unit may investigate the use of bitcoins as monetary payment for alcohol. If the Investigative
Unit issues a citation out of such an investigation, a liquor permit holder may challenge the citation, and
ultimately the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, and possibly an Ohio court, will determine whether the use
was permissible. These comments are limited to the monetary payment for alcohol, and the Investigative
Unit cannot speak to any to any other risks or legal consequences of accepting or using bit coins.
legendary
Activity: 4298
Merit: 3209
http://www.wired.com/2014/04/bitcoin_beer/

Quote
Bencheck asked the Ohio Department of Public Safety for a ruling on whether Ohioans could pay for beer, wine, or liquor with bitcoin. And late last week, the department, which enforces the state’s alcohol laws, gave him its answer: No way.
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