US, PA: Beer sales laws remain unchanged despite expectations

Every poll shows Pennsylvanians want big changes in the way beer, wine and liquor are sold in the commonwealth, and lots of state leaders, including the governor, agree, myfoxphilly.com reported on July, 29.

But those who expect more convenience, better selection and lower prices anytime soon are likely to be disappointed.

Those who navigate Pennsylvania's antiquated liquor laws, who ask nothing more than the ability to buy beer, wine and liquor at a decent price at the same, convenient store, have high hopes for "privatization."

Those expectations were raised last week, when House Majority Leader Mike Turzai got a hearing on his bill to auction off state liquor licenses to raise money for the state and let private owners sell alcohol.

The problem is the bill doesn't loosen store hours, wouldn't significantly add to the number of outlets in Philadelphia and cannot guarantee lower prices.

Philadelphia Republican John Taylor is chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee and he brings up another issue: beer.

"This proposal doesn't deal with beer whatsoever. And I think when a lot of people talk about the notion of whether they're in favor of privatization they do have beer in mind."

Under current law, most beer is sold by distributors a full case at a time. It doesn't matter if you don't need or want a case, the law says that's how it's sold.

People don’t need to look for beer at most supermarkets or convenience stores because they're pretty much shut out of the system.

Taylor says most folks are thinking beer when they talk about improving the system.

“But a complex web of interests keeps things just as they are, just as they have been for decades,” he said.

"So if you make a beer distributor defunct because you change the rules - because now you can buy it in grocery stores - what are you going to do with that person's license, his livelihood, his fifteen employees or whatever. That's not to say that it can't be done, but it's a heavy lift in terms of the problems that it causes," John Taylor said.

03 August, 2011