Grocery Stores & alcohol sales (Bridgeville, Penn: 2009, to buy, restaurant)

[MILF2]

I'm new to the area and I am finding a few things hard to adjust to.

One of these things would be the purchasing of alcohol.

We're not big drinkers, but we are finding it very inconvenient to have to drive around to get all the things we need.

With that said, the other day I saw a large orange sign at my local grocery store (Giant Eagle) and it said something about an alcohol license. I didn't read it in full, so please excuse my ignorance.

Does this mean we will be able to buy our alcohol at the store?

That would help us so much since we are constantly getting lost trying to find our way around here!

[bboy36win]

Originally Posted by MILF2

I'm new to the area and I am finding a few things hard to adjust to.

One of these things would be the purchasing of alcohol.

We're not big drinkers, but we are finding it very inconvenient to have to drive around to get all the things we need.

With that said, the other day I saw a large orange sign at my local grocery store (Giant Eagle) and it said something about an alcohol license. I didn't read it in full, so please excuse my ignorance.

Does this mean we will be able to buy our alcohol at the store?

That would help us so much since we are constantly getting lost trying to find our way around here!

Welcome to the screwed-up world of PA Liquor laws. Traditional grocery stores aren't permitted to sell alcohol in PA ... the only way around it is to purchase a "bar/restaurant" license, which allows a business to sell beer for consumption on-site ... and with it, the permission to sell 6 packs to go. You won't be able to buy a case of beer or a bottle of vodka there.

[fleetiebelle]

This still confuses me. Can you buy a 6 pack in any bar, or only certain ones?

[bboy36win]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

This still confuses me. Can you buy a 6 pack in any bar, or only certain ones?

I believe that all bars are permitted to sell 6 packs if they choose .... but I'm not 100% certain.

[Tinare]

Yeah, it is one of the inconvenient things about Pennsylvania. It only really annoys me at the holidays. Having to make three stops -- buy food, go to the liquor store for wine to serve with dinner, and the beer distributor to get beer for those who prefer it -- instead of getting everything in one place. Most of the rest of the year I'm not stocking up on all of those things at once so I don't notice it as much.

[jenniferprestia]

I'm not certain the "liquor license" for the GE is anything other than to allow them to serve beer (and possibly wine) in their own on site restaurant. At least that's what the news reports said about the GE in Wexford.

I've had a look at the minutes of Pine and it would appear it's just for beer, but I am unclear about whether it's just in restaurant consumption, whether it can be sold if you also purchase food, and where the maximum of 2 six packs mentioned in the minutes come into it.

twp.pine.pa.us/minutes_agendas/board/2009/050409_minutes.pdf

[ddietrich]

The South Fayette (Bridgeville) Shop 'n Save was recently approved to sell six-packs.

[dugdogmaster]

I don't mind it. With the State Store and Distributors you also get a bigger variety than you would at having both under one roof at a grocery or convenient store. I know when I'm in nearby Ohio and have to buy alcohol there the choices are not all that great. Think about it... when you walk into a State Store you have several hundred, if not a thousand or so, different choices of wines and liquors imported from all over the world. Where as in the state next door that choice is down to a couple dozen imported from NAFTA. The same goes for beer.

But then again, the best wine I drink isn't even legal.... so what do I know?

[BrianTH]

There are often beverage superstores in other states where you can get an equally wide, often better, selection of wine, liquor, and beer all in one place. The more limited selection in grocery stores is just a matter of convenience.

[MILF2]

Originally Posted by jenniferprestia

I'm not certain the "liquor license" for the GE is anything other than to allow them to serve beer (and possibly wine) in their own on site restaurant. At least that's what the news reports said about the GE in Wexford.

I've had a look at the minutes of Pine and it would appear it's just for beer, but I am unclear about whether it's just in restaurant consumption, whether it can be sold if you also purchase food, and where the maximum of 2 six packs mentioned in the minutes come into it.

twp.pine.pa.us/minutes_agendas/board/2009/050409_minutes.pdf

Thank you.

We didn't mean to offend anyone, we are just going through the usual adjustment period. Sorry if feelings have been hurt.