Website Facebook Bio Latest News State Forms Photo Gallery Contact FROM THE FLOOR



PA Wine and Spirits Sales

Enter the 21st Century

Government has many essential responsibilities, such as providing a quality education, ensuring safe streets, and protecting clean air and water. Selling wine and liquor – let alone promoting its use – is not one of them. Government should be serving the people, not serving them alcohol. Thanks to a new law I helped usher in, free enterprise practices will (finally!) be permitted to flourish in the adult beverage sector in Pennsylvania.



Under the new law, consumers will experience more choices in the way alcohol is sold in Pennsylvania, because of a bill just passed by the House and Senate. The legislation is also expected to generate up to $150 million in much-needed state revenue for the public sector.



House Bill 1690 will give consumers more options, including wine in grocery stores and six-pack shops, expanded Sunday and holiday hours in state stores, direct shipment of wine and flexible pricing.



This result is a significant step in privatizing retail alcohol sales in Pennsylvania, whose citizens long have been encumbered with the most restrictive state laws in the nation.



Now that the governor has signed the legislation, its provisions are expected to be in place by Thanksgiving…just in time for the holiday season!



Here are some specific details:



The legislation creates wine expanded permits for restaurants and hotels – including gas stations, grocery stores and “six-pack shops,” enabling them to sell four bottles of wine to go.



Current licensees holding a restaurant or hotel license will have the ability to obtain a permit to sell wine to go. The initial permit fee is $2,000 and the renewal fee is equal to 2 percent of the cost of wine purchased from through the Liquor Control Board for consumer off-premise consumption.



Pennsylvania residents could have wine shipped directly to their homes by board-licensed vendors. Small wineries could sell liquor and malt and brewed beverages.



Working in conjunction with the board, more state stores may open on Sundays and holidays; the board may also change the hours of operation. The bill will allow the board more flexibility in price-setting, but it must justify pricing through annual reports. The board must also publish wholesale and retail prices quarterly in the interest of full transparency and consumer interests.



Moving forward, Pennsylvania government’s role with respect to alcohol will be repurposed to stay limited and focused on public safety, which is a core function of government.



Government should concentrate on regulating against the illegal distribution of alcohol and cracking down on those who misuse it, especially minors and those who drink and drive.



A government that devotes its energies to enforcement, compliance and education – rather than selling alcohol – benefits everyone.



Cheers to the new law and, as always, please celebrate responsibly!







Let's Get Connected



Web Site





DuaneMilne.com Office Locations 70 Lancaster Avenue, Suite B, Malvern, PA 19355 | Phone: 610-251-1070 150-A East Wing, PO Box 202167, Harrisburg PA 17120-2167 | Phone: (717) 787-8579 Email: dmilne@pahousegop.com TTY: 855-282-0614