“Can you wrap that up for me?” applies to many things in a restaurant: your delicious but outsize portion of eggplant caponata, the leftover profiterole for the kids. But wine? Sì, signora, wine. Thirty states — including Arizona, New York, Texas, and Virginia — now have “doggie-bag bills” that let you save that unfinished Chianti for later. (To find out the rules in your area, check with your state’s division of alcoholic-beverage control.)

Most of these laws have been enacted over the past few years, primarily to discourage drinking and driving. The reasoning being that if you can take it home, you won’t be overeager to get your money’s worth while still at the restaurant. Ask your waiter about the restaurant’s policy before ordering, as participation is voluntary in most states.

On your way home, remember to stash the recorked bottle in the trunk to avoid violating open-container laws. (Call local law-enforcement officials for regulations.) And once you’ve arrived home safely, offer a toast to leftovers!