One-Stop Alcohol Shopping Proposed in Pennsylvania

A proposed bill would allow wine, spirits to be sold at beer distributors.

May 17, 2011

HARRISBURG, PA - For Pennsylvania residents, alcohol shopping could take one stop, with beer and wine available for purchase at the same locations, the Pocono Record reports.

A bill could be introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives within the next few weeks that would allow the state??s beer distributors to sell wine and spirits through a special permit program.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) would continue to operate the state??s 625 state-owned liquor stores, but the proposal seeks to increase customer convenience, especially in rural parts of the state, by broadening the distribution network.

The bill is separate from one seeking to privatize state-owned liquor stores, a move currently being studied by the state??s governor.

David Shipula, president of the Pennsylvania Malt Beverage Distributors Association, which represents beer distributors, said allowing the sale of liquor would help beer distributors offset their recent losses from expanded restaurant and grocery store beer sales.

"We would be interested in anything that allows us to expand what we can sell," Shipula said. "If I had more items to sell, of course that would help my bottom line."

Pennsylvania has one of the most antiquated licensed beverage laws on the books. For more on how the state??s system works, visit the website created by Sheetz and read a feature in NACS Magazine.

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