Aug. 27, 2019
FAYETTE COUNTY – Seeking to make beer and wine more accessible and convenient for residents to purchase, Rep. Jeff Pyle (R-Armstrong/Butler/Indiana), majority chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee, and other members of the committee held a public hearing to discuss Rep. Matt Dowling’s (R-Fayette/Somerset) Customer Convenience Permit legislation,
House Bill 1644.
“Currently, grocery and convenience stores purchase a restaurant license and use that license to sell beer and wine to-go to our constituents, which has ushered in an era of convenience for our citizens and should be continued,” said Dowling. “However, consumers are still being limited in how they can purchase these alcoholic beverages due to the restrictions these licenses are putting on the establishments. My legislation will help alleviate some of these restrictions and expand how these establishments can sell beer and wine to consumers.”
If enacted, this legislation would allow Pennsylvania establishments that possess a restaurant license to, for a fee, apply for a Customer Convenience Permit to expand operating privileges. This permit will have to be renewed every year by the licensee.
Those expanded privileges would include:
• Removal of the 30-seat requirement for a restaurant license.
• Ability to purchase beer and wine at additional registers.
• Ability to sell wine and beer for off-premise consumption only.
• Individual sales of beer containing more than 192 oz.
• Individual sales of wine containing more than 3,000 mL.
• Permission to place wine and beer products anywhere within the store.
• Permission to hold educational or cooking classes featuring alcoholic products for sale.
“Pennsylvania has made progress in extending convenience to consumers and Rep. Dowling has offered a bill to do that much more quickly,” said Pyle. “It is my job as chairman to hear all bills that come through our committee. Rep. Dowling has put a lot of time and effort into this legislation and deserves some legislative review.”
Representative Jeff Pyle
60th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abby Krueger
717.260.6617
akrueger@pahousegop.com
Representative Matthew Dowling
51st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com