Is It Illegal To Sip Before You Buy At The Store?

This may be one of those questions you may never have thought about it, and maybe it's even something you've done yourself, but is it illegal?

Of course you're going to pay for it, why wouldn't you pay for it? However, maybe it's so hot and you're so parched you just need something to tide you over until you pay for your drink and move on with your life.
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Maybe that line is too long and people are taking forever. You have someone in front of you who needs a price check on everything or they're apparently using their card for the first time ever, there are a lot of variables that keep you from getting through the checkstand quicker.

The Obvious Answer

Yes, it's illegal.

Until you pay for it, it's not yours.

Sometimes because you're taking a drink and, even if you have full intention of paying for it, stores may consider it tampering with the product. That's aside from the obvious 'you haven't paid for it, yet' notion.

Has anyone been arrested or fined because they took a drink before buying

Not to say it hasn't happened. I couldn't find anything outside of a few cases when someone asked for a water cup but filled with soda and refused to pay for it. Those cases are pretty obvious, though.
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There was a story on Reddit where someone did the same and asked people for advice.

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There is that chance that you take a drink and end up leaving the bottle somewhere and not paying for it which would be tampering and theft as the contents you're stealing aren't in the package but in your stomach.

The exception; not the rule

There are a few instances where it is perfectly fine.

For instance, if the store is providing free samples, that is okay, naturally.

If you happen to find yourself in a taproom and wanted to try a sample before making a decision, that would be acceptable, too.

The easy answer is if you haven't paid for it, yet, you don't own it, yet.