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 liquor stores stop selling alcohol 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 regulate drinking.
They don't think it's good if people buy alcohol late at night.
ALEX: But the bars 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 illegal.
ALEX: I know. I read about it.
CORINNE: So I think the laws today reflect that old attitude.
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。