Good News For Pa. Beer Drinkers?
Committee Considers Allowing Distributors To Sell Six-Packs

POSTED: 9:36 am EDT October 4, 2007
UPDATED: 9:49 am EDT October 4, 2007

HARRISBURG, Pa.—Beer drinkers in Pennsylvania may soon have more options for buying beer.

A Senate committee has approved a plan that would allow distributors to sell quantities as small as a six-pack.

Currently, distributors are required to sell nothing less than a case or more.

Also, under the bill, bars would be able to sell a maximum of three six-packs at a time, up from two, to one customer.

The full state House and Senate must still approve the bill.

Whoooo hoooo!!! Oh wait, I don’t buy 6-packs anymore..only kegs. Still good news though

Geez, it’s about time!

I agree - I don’t mind buying in bulk what I like, its just that when I want to try something different (local / craft / micro ,etc) I don’t want to commit to the case and the expected high price just in case I don’t like it. Lets just hope those with the votes finally come to their senses.

:: rubs hands together ::

YES!!! MY PRECIOUSSSSSSSSS!!!!

I had heard rumors of these things called “6 packs” from people who had traveled to the 21st century.  They have also talked about something called a “pub”.  Apparently its a place where locals get together and eat, drink, have fun and socialize.  The 21st century sounds great.  I wish I lived there.

Years ago (1985), I participated in the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar in Harrisburg. We all took over the House and Senate for the day and introduced legislation and acted on it. I introduced a bill to abolish the PLCB and privatize liquor sales. This also eliminated the need for Beer Distributors, Liquor Stores, etc. It opened the market up to a free economy.

It passed both the House and the Senate without a hitch. Too bad it wasn’t real… :(

What I could never figure out:  Let’s force everyone to buy a case of beer, which I would only guess would want to make you drink all 24 - instead of buying a six pack.  I know that you can always drink more...but why can’t you just get six?  So let’s take our business to Maryland instead of keeping it here!!  Oh..sometimes you just gotta love our government.  Thanks Alex for “passing” that bill...too bad it wasn’t real!!!!

I would like to know if any historians in this forum know why the liquor laws are they way they are.

ummm… i seriously think a petition writtten up and signed might get some movement going…

where’s the billl Alex? post it, let’s alll sign it and passs it around and addd everybody together on a file…

seriously…

To EEL…

I wrote that in 1985 or 86… I don’t think I have it any more!

As for the history of PA Liquor laws, you could write a book on some of the stunts they pull. It is mostly about revenue and jobs protection now probably.

Did you know that there is an 18% tax added on to the price of a bottle of hard liquor in PA? It was enacted in the 1940’s to help out with money for the Johnstown flood… I think they paid for that by now! It is still on the books. Who knows where the money goes today!

Alex - 06 October 2007 10:11 AM

Years ago (1985), I participated in the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar in Harrisburg. We all took over the House and Senate for the day and introduced legislation and acted on it. I introduced a bill to abolish the PLCB and privatize liquor sales. This also eliminated the need for Beer Distributors, Liquor Stores, etc. It opened the market up to a free economy.

It passed both the House and the Senate without a hitch. Too bad it wasn’t real… :(

Amen!  I can’t believe these stupid laws.  I originally posted this in the Mama Marias thread in the “East” forum, but figured it belonged here:

The PA liquor control board is an antiquated prohibition-era bureaucracy that should be relagated to simply doing some research on license applicants to verify that they meet certain qualifications… not restrict the licenses based on how many people are around.  It’s ridiculous.

Also, what genius decided you can’t buy beer in quantities of less than 24 unless it’s from a licensed carryout establishment, and if you sell beer you can’t sell wine or liquor.  And if you sell wine and liquor you can’t sell beer.  PA liquor laws should all be repealed.

Verification:

In Pennsylvania the tax on wine and spirits is called the Jamestown Flood tax because it was imposed in 1936 to raise funds to help the city of Jamestown rebuild and recover from a devastating flood that year. The city of Jamestown quickly rebuilt and recovered but the tax still continues. It currently costs the taxpayers of the state over $160,000,000.00 each year.

source - “State liquor tax has origins in 1936 Jamestown flood.” Associated Press, 11-25-01.)
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As for the history of the liquor laws....short of hard data, I can only find that the PA Liquor control board was formed about a week before prohibition officially ended and was heavily influenced by Quakers/Puritans - thus the odd laws we still have today Very odd.

I was always told it was the Johnstown flood, but then again, who knows. It was someone from the PLCB that told me back in 91 I think. Either way, it is criminal!