Pennsylvania is one of two states that regulate wholesale and retail wine and liquor sales. The state House and Senate have been hotly debating proposed policies to overhaul and privatize the current liquor system.
The Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee passed an amended bill in mid-June, permitting out-of-state wineries who obtain a state license to directly ship wines to Pennsylvania consumers. Participating wineries would have to verify the purchaser's age and require an on-site signature by someone 21 and over. Currently, all wine shipped from out-of-state must be picked up from a state store. The new bill also limits the number of deliveries to 36 cases, per winery, per calendar year, and imposes a $1 per gallon excise tax on all shipped wine, instead of the 18% tax currently charged in state liquor stores. Union representatives for liquor store workers expressed concerns over the potential competitive disadvantage given to out-of-state purveyors and the effect it could have on existing state businesses. However, supporters of the bill argued the lower tax rate would offset the costs of shipping and handling most out-of-state would have to incur.
The Committee also passed a proposal that would eliminate the state-run liquor system and instead, allow wholesale permits for importers and wine and liquor sales at grocery stores. Whether the bills will actually make it to the Governor's desk remains to be seen, but Gov. Tom Wolf has reportedly vowed to veto the bill and pushed for a modernized plan that would increase the number of liquor stores in existing markets.
Pennsylvanians will likely not know which bill wins out until the the end of the year. In the meantime, consumers may want to stock up on a few cases while they wait.
The Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee passed an amended bill in mid-June, permitting out-of-state wineries who obtain a state license to directly ship wines to Pennsylvania consumers. Participating wineries would have to verify the purchaser's age and require an on-site signature by someone 21 and over. Currently, all wine shipped from out-of-state must be picked up from a state store. The new bill also limits the number of deliveries to 36 cases, per winery, per calendar year, and imposes a $1 per gallon excise tax on all shipped wine, instead of the 18% tax currently charged in state liquor stores. Union representatives for liquor store workers expressed concerns over the potential competitive disadvantage given to out-of-state purveyors and the effect it could have on existing state businesses. However, supporters of the bill argued the lower tax rate would offset the costs of shipping and handling most out-of-state would have to incur.
The Committee also passed a proposal that would eliminate the state-run liquor system and instead, allow wholesale permits for importers and wine and liquor sales at grocery stores. Whether the bills will actually make it to the Governor's desk remains to be seen, but Gov. Tom Wolf has reportedly vowed to veto the bill and pushed for a modernized plan that would increase the number of liquor stores in existing markets.
Pennsylvanians will likely not know which bill wins out until the the end of the year. In the meantime, consumers may want to stock up on a few cases while they wait.