Denata Benoist drove 100 miles to the Sheetz in Shippensburg for one reason. “Since this one had beer, we had to come check it out.” Benoist said. Sadly, she was disappointed; for now. Although the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approved Sheetz’s license on Wednesday, a company representative said it will take a couple months for the beer to hit the shelves. “I don’t see it being any different than a beer distributor,” Benoist said.
But not everyone shares Benoist’s belief; especially Shippensburg’s police chief. “Publicly drunk, driving while intoxicated, providing alcohol to underage individuals, all those things,” Shippensburg Police Chief Fred Scott said. Scott already expressed his concerns to Sheetz management and the location on East King Street already has its fair share of problems.
Chief Scott said the last time they took statistics for the borough of Shippensburg in 2012, there were 46 retail thefts; 45 of them were at the Sheetz in Shippensburg. The problems may get worse with the gas station being within walking distance of Shippensburg University. “If the college students weren’t in play I wouldn’t give a darn,” Scott said. “But, they are in play and that’s my concern.”
Some students see it differently. “I think it’s safer for everybody else,” Shippensburg University student Mitchell Robertson said. “I mean, you get to pick it up here and just go back to your place as opposed to sitting at the bar drinking and going home having to drive.” The impact the selling of six packs will be determined over time.