Most people assume that buying anything at Costco requires a membership. The assumption is almost entirely correct — almost. There is one commercially significant exception, and it applies in 14 U.S. states: alcohol. In many states, laws prohibit for-profit companies from requiring a paid membership to purchase alcohol. The specific states where this applies to Costco are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan,

Costco is the largest wine retailer in the United States. That fact surprises most people the first time they hear it — because most people think of Costco primarily as a place for bulk paper towels and rotisserie chicken, not as a serious beverage destination. But the numbers are real: Costco sells more wine by volume than any other single retailer in America, and its Kirkland Signature spirits have generated a cult following among consumers who have discovered that the ware