Liquor Reform Bill Passes State House

HARRISBURG – The state House today approved a liquor reform bill intended to modernize and expand the sale of wine in grocery stores and restaurants. State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Centre/Clinton, was among those who voted in support of the measure.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 157-31.  Hanna said he expects Gov. Tom Wolf to sign the bill.

The proposal (H.B. 1690) would allow restaurant and hotel license holders, including some grocery stores that fulfill the seating capacity for a restaurant license, to sell up to four bottles of wine for off-premise consumption. The bill also permits direct shipment of wine by licensed producers to the consumer’s place of residence.

“My colleagues and I have always pushed for consumer convenience, longer hours and direct shipment of wine,” Hanna said. “This measure could not have happened without members on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers working together in a bipartisan manner.”

Hanna said the LCB will now be able to offer discounted items without having to jump through regulatory hoops and all price changes would be uniform across the state. Further, this proposal eliminates the restrictions on specific hours, Sunday sales or state-mandated holidays.

“On top of the increased convenience measures, this proposal is going to generate approximately $150 million in revenue for the state,” Hanna said. “This is a great step toward addressing the state’s long-term structural deficit.”