The union representing liquor store clerks wants to send a message to senators as they sit down on Monday to discuss a new plan to privatize the state's liquor system.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 is calling attention to the dangers that can come with having more outlets selling alcohol. Additionally, it points out privatizing wine and beer sales will erode liquor store profits that the state has relied upon to help fund government operations, programs and services.

The union spent $300,000 to buy airtime on television and radio stations around the state on ads running for 10 days, starting today, that speaks of North Carolina's experience where its privatized system for beer and wine sales (liquor is sold only in government-run stores) is blamed for contributing to one child per week, on average, last year dying in underage drinking-related accidents.

An advertisement paid for by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 is airing on television stations around the state to send a message to state lawmakers about what the group says are the dangers of making alcohol available for sale in stores where children and teens go. (Screen shot of video)

The ad shows two moms sitting on a bench near a playground and talking about how “politicians want booze to be sold in stores where kids and teens go and lose the pot of money that saves tax dollars too.”

"It's about greed, pure and simple," one mother says.

"It only takes a little bit of greed to kill a child," the other says.

The Senate Republican Caucus is expected to begin closed-door discussions on Monday about a plan that would allow beer and wine to be sold in limited quantities in grocery and convenience stores.

The bill would also allow beer distributors to sell six-packs, among other changes. It would keep the Liquor Control Board intact, and state stores would be the only place Pennsylvanians could buy spirits.

Senator Joe Scarnati

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, told PennLive the plan meets the goal of giving “consumers what they want, better access and selection."

House Republican leaders see the Senate plan as a step in the direction where a majority of that chamber's members have shown they want to the state to go. Last year, it approved a privatization plan, by a 105-90 vote, that would have led to the state getting out of the liquor sales business entirely.

While the Senate plan falls short of that goal, House Majority Whip Stan Saylor, R-Red Lion, boldly predicted that after decades of talking about liquor privatization, the Senate plan just might garner majority support in both chambers to reach the governor’s desk.

Gov. Tom Corbett is fully supportive of privatizing liquor sales in Pennsylvania. He was exuberant after the House's historic vote on its privatization plan last year. Passing a privatization plan, even a watered-down one like the Senate will discuss, would be seen as a feather in his cap to boost his re-election effort, said Wendell Young IV, president of UFCW Local 1776.



Privatization opponents, meanwhile, have no intention of letting him or lawmakers score that victory without a fight.

Beer distributors are speaking about Washington state's increase in shoplifting of alcoholic beverages that has become such a problem since it converted to a privatized system in 2012 that it already tweaked its law to address that concern. Others talk of how the Senate plan would devalue state stores if the state ever does go to a complete privatized system since wine sales account for 42 percent of state store profits.



Staving off the privatization effort not only will save union jobs, but Young said it will reduce the problems that science and research shows come with making alcohol more readily available.

“If you are going to have a bill go through the Legislature that’s going to open up sales of higher content alcohol to thousands of more outlets across Pennsylvania, there’s going to be consequences,” he said. “Those consequences are going to be how it affects people, in some cases, death, and it’s also going to be how it affects the revenue in Pennsylvania.”

*Staff writer Jeff Frantz contributed.

*This post was updated to clarify how beer, wine and liquor is sold in North Carolina.