Rep. Turzai urges Senate to advance alcohol bill

Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) recently urged the Senate to advance additional alcohol privatization legislation.

In April 2017, the House advanced H.B. 975, which would allow retailers to buy their wine from private sector wholesalers, brokers and makers of wine instead of from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. It also would eliminate the floor pricing requirements.

“It’s time to finish what we started,” Turzai said. “With only a short time remaining before the end of this legislative session, the Senate has the ability to continue the historic progress we’ve made to give Pennsylvania consumers better choices in the way they purchase beer, wine, and spirits.”

Turzai has been a vocal advocate of removing the state government from the business of selling wine and liquor.

In 2016, grocery and convenience stores were allowed by law to sell wine and beer, and 781 liquor license holders have obtained a “wine to-go” license.

Since 2016, alcohol sales have increased by nearly 2 percent, but wine sales in state stores have dropped.

Private sector employers now account for nearly 11 percent of the wine sold in Pennsylvania.

Consumers, not bureaucrats, should be able to decide what products are sold and where they are purchased, Turzai said.