Exactly what is going on with PA Liquor/Beer laws? (Altoona: house, to buy)

[Avram42]

I'm a recent transplant from Florida (Job relocation) and I've yet to understand exactly what the heck is going on in this state with regards to liquor and beer.

It seems there are state run wine/liquor stores that carry nothing but what their name suggests.

There are also beer distributors (Beer Mill in West Chester is the one I've found) that sell only by the case.

There are restaurants that sell beer to-go (Barnaby's in West Chester) which is completely alien concept to me.

Finally there are "restaurants" that sell beer;and "food" in theory only (Don's Pizza Island).

Did I miss any incarnation?

It's the most alien thing to me to go to a "restaurant" simply to pick up a six-pack--in Florida I'd go to a grocery store or gas station; or go to ABC Liquor and pick from anything you can think of. Where does everyone hit up before Football games?

So what's going on? Does this actually feel normal to anyone in PA? Or maybe everyone has a microbrewery in their basement .

[North Beach Person]

That's PA. Archaic, maybe, but the way it's always pretty much been. The rules were changed a little bit 30 or so years ago to allow restaurants that sold alcohol to do so on Sunday. At about the same time groceries were allowed to open on Sunday.

[dugdogmaster]

It is weird. It's just the way the liquor laws are here. You can also pick up beer to go from bars. They've been progressing the laws in the last year or two. So, I wouldn't be surprised if you would be able to pick up beer or wine at a grocery or convenient store within a couple years.

[R.J. MacReady]

Sheetz has been fighting these laws for a while now but not sure where things stand as I can't seem to find more recent articles and limited on time but hopefully can look more tomorrow. I'm not sure if they are currently doing it at the altoona store as I think I recall something happening at the last momement to prevent their plan. I know wanted to sell six packs to go and think they had to have a food court that seated a certain amout of people to get around the law. I think Wegmens and Weis have also tried to fight the laws but not sure if they still are, where it's at, and what stores were/are/weren't successful. Here's a few links but some older info:

Altoona gas station first to tap into alcohol sales

Pa. high court urged to block Sheetz beer license « S W A L L O W

[toobusytoday]

You just get used to it. All states have some strange quirks and that's ours.

I think a couple of grocery stores up here are selling wine.

[nocturnal rooster]

I didn't really think anything of it because when I moved to PA, I wasn't quite old enough to drink yet, and when I was of age I just went to a beer distributor or a liquor store and didn't really think about it. And then I moved up here, and they sold beer & wine in almost every convenience store/gas station and I was like that is so awesome! I was amazed. I still am amazed that I only have to walk 300 feet to a convenience store to get a case of beer.

[PeterRabbit]

Alcohol control was said to be part of the old Pennsylvania Blue Laws, whatever that is or was. Retail stores weren't allowed to be open on Sundays. In other states I've gone to drive through liquor stores. Here there's no competition to cater to the consumer. The state has no business being in this business.

[Ohiogirl81]

Heh. My big pet peeve. It's absolutely ridiculous that I can't toss a sixer or a bottle of wine into my shopping cart at the grocery store.

And the reason for the state stores is nothing more than overpaid clerks and patronage employees paying expensive lobbyists so that they can hang on to their cushy jobs. The state would still get its revenue from taxes and from licensing the private stores, and probably would save money by not having to pay into the pensions for the overpaid clerks (who don't know squat about the products they're selling anyway). Consumer prices would go down in a privately-owned system because there would be plenty of competition.

[Awesomo.2000]

I lived in two different states. I never really cared. There were 3 beer distributers when I lived in the burbs that were around the grocery stores. So you had to go out of your way, but it was like across the parking lot. The wine stores are usually in the same plaza. I really don't care if I can't get it in a gas station. Usually when I need to pick up a 6 pack, it is a friday or saturday night, and I can go down the block to Kazanskies or the pub to get it.

Is it annoying? A little bit. Is it enough to make me get upset? no. There are FAR bigger things to be worried about than not being able to buy beer at Sheetz.

I also hate when people complain about the bars closing at 2. Even in my hard partying days when I was 21 and 22, I typically would not want to be out at a bar or club after 2. This is what house parties are for. Throwing your money away at a bar after 2 Am is pretty lame.

[Avram42]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Consumer prices would go down in a privately-owned system because there would be plenty of competition.

Not what I was talking about, but I agree with you, I assure you.

Originally Posted by Awesomo.2000

I also hate when people complain about the bars closing at 2.

Despite the easier access to liquor everywhere in Florida, our bars (in Orlando) closed at 2 as well.