Formerly: a place to go to buy "a
shot" of liquor if you are underage, or if the area is a devoid of bars.
Recently: a place to buy liquor or
drugs, and if things
go badly, you could get
shot.
The locations are usually at "holes-in-the-wall" or is on a "back road". You are generally allowed in if someone knows you as an acquaintance (or "
friend"), otherwise you are watched suspiciously and it could end badly. They do not have a license to sell open containers nor to sell alcohol to-go so participants generally avoid police, State Alcohol Beverage Control Department, and ATF (and DEA). Participants also may come and go high or intoxicated, much like at an actual bar.
Kelly: The shot-
house has too many cars halfway in the narrow street now that it is payday.
Ken: There is as much scrap
metal on the ground from beer cans as there are shell casings at that shot-house.