HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Many convenience stores in Pennsylvania still face an uphill battle to gain permission to sell beer wine and spirits even if Gov. Tom Wolf signs an historic bill that would do away with the state's long commitment to beer stores.
The bill approved by the General Assembly on Tuesday sets the stage for the sale of the state-owned liquor stores and privatization of the state liquor system, as reported in a 21st Century Smoke/CSP Daily News Flash.
House Bill 466 "gets the state out of a business that is not a core function of government while returning to the people opportunities for choice, convenience and entrepreneurialism," said State Rep. Mike Turzai, a sponsor of the bill.
Pennsylvania is one of only two states where government has full control of both the retail and wholesale sales of wine and liquor. Bill 466, which would amend a liquor code dating back to 1951, would change that, allowing consumers to purchase up to five bottles of wine and two bottles of liquor at grocery stores and convenience stores with eating areas. Restaurants with enhanced liquor licenses would also be allowed to sell up to two bottles of spirits and five bottles of wine for carry out.
The bill as approved by the general assembly, however, maintains a restriction on awarding liquor licenses to retail sites "where liquid fuels or oil is sold."
Still, the bill would be a boon to c-store chains like Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz Inc., which has long fought for the right to sell beer at its locations based on the amount of foodservice products sold in its stores.
Sheetz executive vice president of operations Travis Sheetz is not optimistic that Wolf will sign the bill. "Unfortunately, the governor will likely veto the legislation because it contains a privatization component," Sheetz told CSP Daily News. "He has stated that he is against privatization."
According to the bill, the 600 state-owned liquor stores would be phased out based on the availability of private liquor in each store's area and a store's profitability.
A spokesperson for Wolf would not comment on the governor's intention for the bill.
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