HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Following recent efforts that gave convenience stores the right to sell cold beer, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf further expanded the sales of suds in the state, signing a bill that will give the state's more than 1,000 beer distributors permission to sell beer in any quantity.
“Pennsylvanians have waited decades to bring their beer and liquor systems into the 21st century,” Wolf said.
In May, following Wolf’s request, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approved licenses allowing gas stations to sell beer. These approvals "freed the six-pack," as Wolf's campaign is titled, for certain gas stations with appropriate accommodations that can now sell six-packs of beer.
This new law will create additional customer convenience by:
- Allowing distributor licensees to sell malt or brewed beverages in any amount to an unlicensed customer for off-premises consumption. The sales do not have to be in the manufacturer’s original configuration and can be sold in refillable growlers that can be resealed.
- Allowing retail licensees to start selling on Sundays at 9 a.m. instead of 11 a.m.
- Allowing a person licensed by another state to apply for a “malt or brewed beverage shipper license,” which allows the direct shipment of 192 fluid ounces of beer to be delivered to a customer per month; however, only 96 ounces of a specific brand of beer may be shipped per year to an adult resident.
- Allowing beer and liquor to be sold in shatterproof containers before, during and after professional and amateur athletic events and consumed outside the club seating and restaurant area, as can be done at performing arts events or other entertainment events.
- Clarifying that a brewery does not need a brewery-pub license to sell the products of other licensed breweries, limited wineries, limited distilleries and distilleries.
The new regulations will take effect 60 days after the Nov. 15 signing of the bill.
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