Not sure if I'm missing a sarcasm tag in your comment but most places in the US restrict the number of places selling hard alcohol by having a restricted number

Not sure if I'm missing a sarcasm tag in your comment but most places in the US restrict the number of places selling hard alcohol by having a restricted number of liquor licenses that trade on the open market like taxi medallions. In San Francisco for a restaurant this will set you back a cool 1/4 million[1] and the type 48 license you need to open a bar seem be sold so rarely in San Francisco I can't find any price reference online. [1]http://www.mercerrestaurantgroup.com/how-to-open-a-restaurant/2015/2/1/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-liquor-license-continued http://www.mercerrestaurantgroup.com/how-to-open-a-restauran...