Rant: The government control and hyper regulation of adult beverages in Pennsylvania is unconscionable. The idea the citizens of this commonwealth should not sell alcohol for home consumption and should not be able to purchase at the same store they buy the rest of their groceries is crazy. If I throw a dinner party I have to visit the grocery store, the state liquore store and the beer distributor to get everything I need.
Also why force people to buy beer by the case (288 ounces at a time), are they trying to get people to drink more? The beer distributors association isn’t much better. They keep lobbying for the rules to remain the same citing the fact, that given the choice people won’t buy beer by the case, rather people prefer buying a six pack. DUH! You sound like the telegraph companies crying about those dang pesky telephones and how even though people want them they shouldn’t have them.
The Morning Call reports that Rep Beyer is trying to change at least part of Pennsylvania’s archaic regulatory system.
In a statement that smelled suspiciously of fresh hops, Beyer says her bill would level the playing field for distributors by allowing them to sell six-packs.
This is because, she says, the state is nearing that glorious day when it will catch up with the rest of the known universe by not requiring thirsty Pennsylvanians to go to five different places to buy their booze.
“Pennsylvania is moving closer to the day when all of our grocery and convenience stores will be allowed to sell beer by the six pack,” Beyer said, helpfully repeating everything we just told you. “My legislation levels the playing field for our local distributors and will allow these small businesses to remain competitive and thrive in the marketplace.”
Read Michael Nerozzi’s article Bamboozled: Why Government-Run Liquor Stores are Socially and Economically Impractical over at the Commonwealth foundation.
Michael shares some important facts and shatters a few myths:
- Sale of stores would yield 1.7 million
- Taxes from Alcohol sales would yield 350 million annually
- Deregulation actually reduces overall alcohol consumption
- Deregulation does not increase underage drinking
- The increased purchasing power of State run liquor stores does not lower the price
Also go sign the Free the Beer petition sponsored by Sheetz.
Cheers!
