Virginia Raccoon Breaks Into Liquor Store, Drinks Spirits, Passes Out in Bathroom

Overview

• On November 29, a raccoon entered the ABC Liquor Store in Ashland, Virginia, by falling through a ceiling panel and triggered the security alarm.
• It broke multiple bottles and drank various spirits, including rum, vodka and whiskey, before being found unconscious on the bathroom floor.
• Hanover County animal protection officers transported the animal to the county shelter, allowed it to recover, and later released it back into the wild without injuries.
• Virginia ABC officials said the animal caused considerable damage inside the store by knocking down and breaking bottles.
• Coverage highlighted research that raccoons are increasingly adapted to city life and opportunistically consume human-related or fermented foods, a point officials echoed with lighthearted social posts.