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[Rail Paul]

Pennsylvania has long had a crazy quilt of regulations surrounding the sale of alcohol. For many years, state employees sold all wine and liquor in the Commonwealth. The buyer wasn't able to touch the bottles until they purchased them. Beer, on the other hand, was sold (by the case) in beer distributor stores. The distributors couldn't sell quantities fewer than 24. Beer by the six pack was sold in taverns, but only two six packs per visit. Usually at a steep mark up.

The current administration proposes again to try to sell off the network of state owned stores, but adds a wrinkle. The new proposal is to allow beer distributors first crack at buying state stores and merging them with the existing case distribution --and-- allowing the store to sell beer by the six pack. Grocery stores in some areas have recently received licenses to sell six packs, it appears that permission will be eliminated for new groceries.

The case distributors would like to sell beer by the six pack, but few seem interested in buying the state stores in their area.

I get down to the relatively new State Store in New Hope every few months, and have found some excellent buys with good preparation, as well as friendly and helpful staff.


Beer is in the Mix

[Rail Paul]

The Pennsylvania state senate leader has apparently put a stop to the current discussion of privatizing the liquor business in PA.

Perhaps unrelated, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the head of the PLCB and senior officials are being investigated for accepting free tickets to sports events, accommodations, gifts, etc. Another official may have "pressured" Stephen Starr over jobs for the official's relatives. The PLCB controls the flow of alcohol to restaurants and bars in PA.

Eater:

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which controls every last drop of alcohol that crosses in and out of Pennsylvania state lines, is in a bit of hot water. The Philadelphia Inquirer just released a report showing multiple high-ranking officials in the organization accepting gifts from vendors that included golf outings, tickets to sporting events, free wine and liquor for events, and even job opportunities for family members. The three gentlemen named in the report are CEO Joe Conti, board member Patrick J. "P.J." Stapleton III (at one time, Stapleton was the LCB Chairman), and marketing director James Short.

BUSTED!