Jenan Benson, NC
Boozing your Way to Free Food
By Jenan Jones Benson
Every once in a while, manufacturers and legislators team up to bring us some great deals. This seems to be the case with the fabulous beer and wine offers that have been coming our way the past few years.
Of course, we all love the super winetag coupons and refunds. In a few areas, including my home state of North Carolina, it appears that an unlikely pairing of alcohol producers and lawmakers is on our side.
Here in NC, we get a number of alcohol offers that dont require booze purchases. The odd thing is that these no alcohol purchase required refunds and coupons are only sponsored by beer and wine companies; liquor is a different story. Here, beer and wine are sold in many retail locations, such as supermarkets, convenience stores and even drug stores. Liquor, however, is only available in state-run Alcohol Beverage Control stores. These ABC stores often display forms that require a booze buy; for instance, $2 back when you buy a bottle of rum. So it seems that there must be state laws regulating these offers; because virtually all beer and wine offers do not require alcohol purchases, it appears this must be a legal requirement. Why its different for liquor, I dont know. That would make a good research project some cold, rainy day!
Whatever the reasons, these beer and wine offers mean lots of free food for smart shoppers, even those who dont consume alcohol. While most of the wine refunds are for $5 or less, the beer deals run as high as $25. I continue to be astonished by the generous refunds that seem to be offered in the mere hope that we will buy their products.
For instance, deli tray offers have been very popular and profitable recently. Several beer makers have offered up to $25 back on a deli tray purchase! And, remember, we dont have to buy the beer! Heineken, Miller and Coors have sponsored such refunds in the last couple of years.
Once or twice, its gotten even better when these offers coincided with coupon deals. The deli tray promotions are usually timed with holidays and big events such as the SuperBowl. Two years ago, Smirnoff Ice distributed coupons in the supermarkets for $10 off a deli tray and several stores have placed $5 coupons in their flyers. Can you say theyre paying me to eat this food!? Typically, I get a meat or cheese tray and freeze it in smaller portions.
Earlier this year, Heineken offered a $10 snack refund, which combined with manufacturers coupons and double coupon promotions, meant free chips, salsa and nuts.
These generous companies [my husband says theyre crazy] love to give away meat. Heineken runs a $15 to $25 turkey or ham program during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season and Miller followed suit with a ham refund last year. Recently, beef and seafood offers have popped up. This spring Corona offered $15 back on a beef purchase of at least $15 and Miller topped that with a $20 meat refund. Heinekens summer promotion yields shoppers $15 in free meat and/or seafood. All with no beer buy, at least in some states such as GA, KY, VA, WV, TN, AL and sometimes others.
Of course, the King of Beers, Budweiser, isnt left out of the royal group of ale makers. Over the years, theyve given away assorted foods, ice, charcoal and more.
I no longer keep records of every refund I submit, but the beer deals alone have easily cut my grocery bill by $400 in the last two to three years. Ill drink to that!
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Photo Comments
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He sure looks lie he uses the booze to me. 
Jan. 3, 2009 By:
Gary
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Me too! What part of NC are you in?? I would appreciate help getting started in all this!
Dec. 24, 2008 By:
A Friend
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Where do you find these offers? I live in NC and I don't remember seeing them. I'm new at this, however.
Oct. 10, 2008 By:
dw
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