Answers to state’s liquor law changes
HARRISBURG – Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania House surprised many this week when they pushed through a bill to allow sales of wine at grocery stores and to make other changes to how alcohol is sold. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf signed it into law a day later.
Some of its major components:
Q: Where will consumers be able to buy takeout bottles of wine?
A: The law lets about 11,000 holders of restaurant and hotel liquor licenses apply for a new wine-to-go permit that would allow them to sell four bottles per customer.
Q: When does it take effect?
A: The law goes live in early August, and there are predictions that consumers could start to see bottles for sale in groceries sometime this fall.
Q: Will beer sales change?
A: A number of convenience stores with gas stations were licensed to sell beer following a 2014 court decision, and the new law amends the Liquor Code to take that into account.
Q: How does it alter alcohol sales in casinos?
A: Casinos, such as The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in North Strabane Township, will be allowed apply for a license that would let them sell booze around-the-clock, instead of just 19 hours a day.
Q: Can customers get wine shipped directly from a winery now?
A: Producers will be allowed to apply for a license to make direct shipments. They’ll be able to ship up to 36 cases per year to each customer.
Q: What about hard liquor?
A: The law does not change how spirits are sold, nor does it direct or anticipate closing any of Pennsylvania’s roughly 600 state-owned liquor stores.
Q: What changes will this produce at liquor stores?
A: They’ll have much more flexibility to set prices. Lottery sales are now permitted, and the stores can establish customer loyalty programs and use coupons.
Q: Will liquor stores change their hours?
A: They were given more power to determine their operating hours. Blanket prohibitions against opening on certain holidays have been removed from the law, as was a provision directing that only 25 percent of stores can open Sundays.
Q: How much revenue will this generate?
A: That’s unclear, although some predict as much as $150 million in the first year.
Q: What about total privatization of the alcohol sales system?
A: The law establishes a Wine and Spirits Wholesale and Retail Privatization Commission and gives it six months to recommend further changes.
Q: Are there other changes?
A: The law has many other provisions, among them a ban on powdered alcohol.