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Sen. John Rafferty calls for beer sale reforms in PA
The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.
Sen. John Rafferty calls for beer sale reforms in PA
Forty-fourth senatorial district (MontCo, BucksCo) representative John Rafferty (R) has called today for changes to be made to Pennsylvania's "antiquated and unsafe" beer-sale laws. His legislation would make it possible for consumers to purchase beer in lesser amounts than cases and kegs from distributors, as well as allow grocery and convenience store owners to sell six-packs by purchasing existing liquor licenses for a "conversion" fee of $25,000 plus an annual payment of $2,500 -- monies that would fund statewide programs to strengthen enforcement of beer-sale laws.
From Senator Rafferty's Web site:
Rafferty's bill would allow consumers to purchases six-packs in grocery and conveniences stores as well as at distributors. It would also require 100 percent "carding" for all beer sales with electronic age verification machines to ensure that minors are not purchasing alcohol illegally....
More than four years ago, as chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, Rafferty conducted statewide hearings on underage drinking which focused on how minors obtained alcohol. Rafferty said that 100 percent carding for all beer sales works. Since Market Café Restaurants at Wegmans began selling beer in May of 2008, there have been more than 760,000 transactions with no violations. All sales are subject to the company's 100 percent carding policy.
gasp
[...] citypaper.net This continues on the story from last week out of Colorado. I like this from the standpoint of liquor stores having the ability to carry individual bottles. This allows them to have more of a selection and allows craft beer lovers to pick and choose what they want – and not getting burned by purchasing a case of expensive craft beer that they may not like. [...]
"IT IF AINT BROKE" I OWN A PUB. A GOOD PORTION OF MY BUSINESS IS SELLING TAKE OUT BEER, MAYBE 35%. I EMPLOY SOMEONE TO HANDLE THAT PART OF THE BUSINESS. I GUESS HE NEEDS TO FIND HIMSELF ANOTHER JOB. I PAY A 8% SALE TAX ON ALL THE BEER AND LIQUOR I PURCHASE AND AN ADDITIONAL 10% LIQUOR TAX ON EVERY BOTTLE AND CAN AND DRAFT AND LIQUOR DRINK SOLD. PHILADELPHIA AND THE STATE OF PENNA DO QUITE WELL THRU MY BUSINESS. THIS BILL WOULD KILL EVERY SMALL BAR BUSINESS THAT RELIES ON TAKE OUT SALES.WHY? HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN BUSINESS? THE RENT GETS RAISED, THE ELECTRIC BILL GOES UP, THE CHAIN LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENT OPEN UP AROUND THE CORNER, THE STATE WANTS $1170 FOR RENEWALS FOR MY LIQUOR LICENSE EVERY YEAR AND AN ADDITIONAL THREE HUNDRED FOR "TAKE OUT" PRIVILEGES. IT NEVER ENDS. AND NOW THEY WANT TO SCREW UP A SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE WHERE EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN NITCH. ALL THIS TALK ABOUT MINORS DRINKING, DRUNKEN DRIVERS, YEA, START SELLING BEER IN SUPERMARKETS.
Mr. Wilson is right. It isn't broken and doesn't need fixed. From my side, my business is about 90% take out and we have Sheetz and Wal-Mart about 100 yards away. If these changes happen out goes 17 years of business, two families, 7 part timers and in comes Bankruptcy. I would bet there are a lot of my type of businesses that this, too, would affect. How about the Johnstown flood tax that is still imposed ? No one has tried to change that either.
So we should keep antiquated liquor laws because it would harm some small businesses? Adapt, find a new niche, execute a new business model and stop whining.
Read some of the above and recall the cries of buggy whip makers and typewriter manufacturers that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Progress is not represented only by better products. Wider availability of existing products improves ease of access and is more efficient. If we had applied the advice of Messrs Wilson and Johnson years ago, we would still be getting our groceries and laundry soap at a local stand-alone Market & Variety Store. Progress is a dynamic thing, always moving forward. Those who would stop it by refusing to go along will be left behind.
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