West Virginia and New Jersey have a similar problem. Both states are dealing with pesky out-of-towners swarming over the borders. They aren’t tourists, they’re residents of Pennsylvania hoping for a little liquid courage to get them through the boredom, or kid-filled, days of quarantine.

The issue isn’t selection, but availability. On March 16, the Pennsylvania governor declared liquor non-essential and shut down all the liquor stores which, in that state, happen to be owned and operated by the state.

Panic-buying ensued, with state-owned stores reporting a rush like they’d never seen. In the days since, Pennsylvanians have been defying stay-at-home orders to make liquor runs across the closest state line, driving up traffic at New Jersey and West Virginian liquor stores to more than 100% of normal. The problem is so bad that West Virginia State Troopers are stopping cars with Pennsylvania plates and telling drivers to go home… empty-handed.

The Pennsylvania order proves the law of unintended consequences. By shutting down the stores, the Governor increased the number of people traveling long distances and increased crowding in certain locations, which are two things he was trying to deter.

He should have a drink and consider a better alternative.