State Rep. Dan Deasy (D-Allegheny), Democratic chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee, recently applauded the passage of House Bill 425 in the state House and the Senate.
The bill amends the 1951 Liquor Code to further provide for sales by liquor licensees and to allow for the sale of prepared beverages and mixed drinks for off-premises consumption.
“Restaurants have been doing everything in their power to stay afloat as this pandemic persists,” Deasy said. “This bill would provide much-needed assistance to these business owners by giving them flexibility in countering some of the obstacles they’ve struggled with for nearly two years.”
Under the bill, liquor and wine licensees who go out of business can sell their license to another person qualified to sell those products. The bill also extends licensees ability to sell drinks for off-premises consumption to apply to any disaster emergency. The extension previously only applied to the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Rep. Anita Kulik (D-Allegheny) authored initiatives to relax some requirements for safekeeping liquor licenses. State Rep. Napoleon Nelson (D-Montgomery) authored the initiative to expand off-site catering permits.
The legislation has moved to Gov. Tom Wolf for his signature. If he signs it, the provisions go into effect immediately.