There is an update to the Wired article:
Update: April 30; 5:10 p.m. Pacific
After our story published, Eric Wolf, of the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s investigative unit, sent us the following email, which suggests that Bencheck may be able to accept bitcoins — if he’s willing to go to court.
This is our statement referring to bitcoins. No further information or comments will be provided.
The state of Ohio has not taken a position regarding the use of bitcoins. Rather, in keeping with guidance
from the IRS that bitcoins are a form of “property” and not “currency” for tax purposes, the Ohio
Investigative Unit may investigate the use of bitcoins as monetary payment for alcohol. If the Investigative
Unit issues a citation out of such an investigation, a liquor permit holder may challenge the citation, and
ultimately the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, and possibly an Ohio court, will determine whether the use
was permissible. These comments are limited to the monetary payment for alcohol, and the Investigative
Unit cannot speak to any to any other risks or legal consequences of accepting or using bit coins.
