Sep. 21, 2016
HARRISBURG -- Legislation to allow hotel and restaurant licensees to begin selling distilled liquor was introduced Wednesday as a means to further improve Pennsylvania’s liquor laws. The bill’s author, Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland/Somerset), called his proposal another step to make purchasing spirits more consumer friendly and withdraw Pennsylvania from the business of selling alcohol.
“It has been made clear time and time again that folks want to be treated like adults and believe that it is not government’s responsibility to buy and sell alcohol,” Reese said. “This is another important step in re-drafting the Commonwealth’s longstanding and archaic liquor system.”
If enacted,
House Bill 2357 proposes to establish a Spirit Expanded Permit that could be purchased by any business that holds a valid restaurant or hotel license. With the expanded permit, such businesses would be permitted to sell up to three liters of spirits in a single transaction for the purpose of off-premises consumption.
The proposal borrows ideas already passed into law with the enactment of Act 39 of 2016 in June, which opened wine sales to hotel and restaurant licensees. Reese said that as the number of grocery stores that purchase restaurant licenses increase, Pennsylvanians can look forward to purchasing beer, wine and liquor while shopping at supermarkets, creating a convenient one-stop scenario for consumers.
The bill was referred to the House Liquor Control Committee for consideration.
Representative Mike Reese
59th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.423.6503
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepReese.com