A couple Sundays ago I linked to an article about an upcoming Target location in Chicago that plans to serve alcohol. This is a brilliant move by Target because if there’s one thing that helps people make bad retail decisions, it’s alcohol (I’m 80% sure drunk people keep Amazon in business). It also seems great for us shoppers, because hello booze while you shop, but is it really? To find out, last Sunday while the kids were with Gramma, Mike and I hit Target after I’d had 3/4 of a bottle of wine…which is a lot for me these days.
If you can’t see the video above, click here.
I do still have some questions:
~Will shoppers be able to use their Red Cards for 5% off their drinks?
~Will the drinks have cutesy titles like Targetini and Target Bulldog?
~Will shoppers have to pass a sobriety test to be allowed in the Dollar Spot?
~Will shoppers be issued a nice spouse or friend who will patiently put back all the things the excited shopper throws in the cart (thanks, Mike!)?
Target is going to make a lot of money, but um…I will definitely not be drinking there. Or ever again.
Jordan says:
“I lost my shoe… like Cinderella!”
Oh my word this just made 3am SO MUCH FUNNIER
This is fantastic.
Jennifer L. says:
That.Was.Awesome.
Lauren Parker- Gill says:
Mike: You know what, let’s not get on a bike right now.
Heather: I’m not going to drive it.
Hahahahaha
Lauren Parker- Gill says:
And THEN I went to Target this morning and saw the same furry vest you tried on and laughed out loud.
Debbie A-H says:
That made my Thursday! You are da bomb.
Desera says:
OMG….hilarious! I think I want to get drunk and go to Target now!
Lisa says:
The shopping carts should be equipped with breathalyzers. anything over .03 – cart won’t move!
Jackson says:
Actually that is not a bad idea. This is frightening. Who is monitoring the intake? People leaving the store and driving intoxicated, particularly people with kids, is pretty scary.
I wish more information had been given in this blog about Target’s responsibility to ensure that people do not leave the store intoxicated.
Heather says:
I assume it will be like any other bar, where people are responsible for their own consumption.
Jackson says:
Yes, but Target is not a bar. A bar does not allow children. Every Target I have been in has children shopping with their parent(s).
Heather says:
Some bars allow children – it depends on the liquor license the establishment has (I had to learn all about the different licenses when I was a bartender). I don’t know the rules in Chicago, but if this happened in California, Target might go the way of Whole Foods, and not allow anyone under the age of 21 into the bar area. That would likely prevent parents drinking when they have their kids with them. It will definitely be interesting to see how it all pans out.
Anna says:
Whole Foods and Wegmans already offer this in certain stores. The same way you can have a drink at a restaurant, even if you have kids with you, and are expected to take care of yourself, will apply here. I’m sure the same liability that restaurants and bars have (largely related to not serving visibly intoxicated people) will apply to Target, but Target shouldn’t have any more liability than a TGI Fridays.
Jackson says:
I’m sorry I cannot agree with you. Target is a department store where parents and their children come to do shopping. You are placing a lot of faith in the ability of people to know when to stop drinking since they are likely driving home or elsewhere with children in the car.
I thought Heather’s video was humorous but what if it was real and she got in her car with her two kids feeling tipsy because she did not have use good judgment. I doubt Heather would do that but another mom could. I doubt a cashier would be able to say, “you should not be driving and I am going to call a taxi for you.
I am very concerned about drinking and driving and drinking in a department store sounds ludicrous to me and I suspect we will soon see this changed because of a fatality.
Heather says:
In California, there are several stores where alcohol is served – Whole Foods and Nordstrom immediately come to mind. It will still be the responsibility of the bartender/wait staff to determine intoxication level and if the person should be served. I assume it will be a cordoned-off area like it is in Nordstroms and Whole Foods stores. In California (for example), shoppers wouldn’t be able to walk around with drinks because of open container laws, so they’ll still be monitored – not sure about the law in Chicago, though. A Target Bar will likely function just like any other place that serves food/drinks.
Rebecca says:
Jackson, I think your argument is not wholly thought out seeing that you can you can drink at so, so many family establishments, BUT just want to say, that if you are driving in this particular area (especially after drinking), you are doing it wrong. This is a super dense urban area and most people walk, taxi or bus. Parking is hard and expensive. Also, alcohol in Chicago is (way too)expensive, and if you have enough money to get drunk, you have enough money to taxi.
btw – Chuck E Cheese serves alcohol, as does Six flags, Disney World, Starbucks and most obvious: restaurants. Even the the TacoBell down the street from my sells alcohol.
Auntie_M says:
Actually, having owned a winery, WE were responsible if we served people who then got intoxicated (because while the sample tastes were small, as you know, wineries are often grouped together in areas, and people would hit them all, and if our winery was towards the end of the day/tour or they had purchased and drank their own wine, our tastings could put them over the limit). If they were in a limo or tour or party bus, at least we didn’t run the risk of them driving. But even if they were and xame in inebriated, we could not serve them, legally. And, legally, if we served someone who then left our winery, drove, we’re over the legal limit (even if they hadn’t appeared to be to us) and had an accident, WE were at fault, not all the other wineries they’d been to that day. Just the last one.
So, yeah, I think Target is taking on a huge liability risk in serving alcohol. However, maybe their plan is a 1 drink maximum?
Jackie says:
Bahahaha!! We drunk shopped often when we were in college. Great fun until you realize you spent half your rent money on electric blue makeup
Heather says:
hahaha, right?
Jenny says:
Hilarious!
Laura says:
“oooooh marshmallows!” Ha!!
Michele says:
This video is an instant classic. “Oooh, marshmallows!” And the “I had actual things on my list…” — said by everyone who has ever entered Target, drunk or sober.
Alimartell says:
CHEWBACCA CLOTHES THOUGH
Steph says:
Hilarious! The sacrifices you make for your readers is amazing;)
Lisa says:
Shoot they are going to need puke buckets soon. You were so funny…
Lisa says:
Cute the little math problem at the bottom is so that we dont drunk post? LOL
Abby says:
This made my morning. Your sweatshirt tho – I need it!
Heather says:
Aw, thanks – it’s from Brickyard Buffalo!
Mandy says:
Bike tire bigger than your head? I should hope so…it’s even bigger than a Spohr head!
Shea says:
LOL, get any strange looks from other customers? That you’re aware of? Drinking at Target: terrible idea for me because I would buy way more than I already do, therefore excellent idea for Target!
Shea says:
PS: How was the next morning? hahaha
Heather says:
Hahaha, it was a sloooow morning! Yet another reason why I hardly drink anymore!
Heather says:
We went late, around 10pm, so there weren’t many customers there! But I’m sure they all looked at me like I was an idiot, LOL.
Aubrey says:
This is how I shop sober…. Hmm.. Maybe I should drink more. Also you are awesome and I want to go shopping with you.
TANIA says:
This made my day!!! hahahaaaaa!!! We have a children’s indoor place called Chunky Cheese here in Maine, not sure where else they have them, they have games, small indoor rides, host birthday parties…games with ballssss……and you can drink there……beer by pints or pitchers, wine by glasses or bottles etc etc…. spent some really awesome Saturday afternoons there…..LOL
Stephanie says:
Imagine if that personal shopper was there to give you clothes to try on! I would have died to see what you would have actually tried on!
Terri says:
Well now I may start shopping at Target for pure amusement. That was hysterical.
Lisa says:
This is pure awesomeness in the comedy!!! I wonder how many returns would be the next day?? I’ve used drunk shopping on my husband to get “sexy” outfits that weren’t so sexy the next day.
Rebecca says:
I never comment on any post! I have followed you for many years but now I have to speak. I love this!!!! You are one of my favorite peeps and we have never met!!
Z says:
Hey, that’s just like what my brother and I do at Target when we’re sober! Next time definitely try to squeeze yourself into those pillow towers. It’s awesome until you have to contort your way out of them again.
REK981 says:
Hilarious!! Thanks for sharing.
Tricia says:
You’re the best.
Mary says:
A terrible idea
Marjorie Steele says:
I just watched this for the first time and was LMAO! This was such a funny post. Good thing it was empty in there cause you def had the wobbles!
Auntie_M says:
You were hysterical!!!!!
Reminded me of Target, Walmart, and MacFrugals back in my early college days!!!!
The next morning you’d be looking at things thinking WHY? WHY WOULD I BUY THIS?!? And always hoping you’d saved the receipts! LOL
You really were like Cinderella, losing your shoe and then trying to ride away in your carriage…erm…bike.
Mike sounds like all sober people in charge of a drunk person: amused yet slightly exasperated! That’s usually me. Because of my health issues I never drink. Automatic DD. Not always that fun! Because what the inebriated find hysterically funny often ..isn’t. At least not the 4th time round!
Cala says:
I could barely get through 10 seconds. Cringing for you. Faker
Heather says:
Not faking anything. Sorry you didn’t like it – it’s just supposed to be fun and silly!