Legislation would end state control of liquor

A bill recently introduced in the state House would end the state’s control of wine and spirit sales.

House Bill 2547 would close state stores, creating private outlets for liquor, and privatizing the wholesale liquor system. A similar bill, House Bill 466 of 2015, was vetoed.

On March 17, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to close all Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvanians have been traveling to neighboring states to purchase alcohol.

“The PLCB drives up costs while at the same time decreasing selection and convenience,” Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington), who introduced the bill, said. “But even more concerning is that the current system forces Pennsylvanians, small businesses and local family restaurants into doing business with a government-run monopoly that’s rife with political favoritism.”

Pennsylvania is one of only two states where the government completely controls wholesale and retail wine and spirits sales. The state’s system was established in 1939.

The purpose was to make it as inconvenient as possible to purchase wine and spirits, O’Neal said. This is still the PLCB’s mission, he said, and now is the time to end an antiquated system.

Two-thirds of Pennsylvania voters support privatizing the state’s liquor system, according to past polling.