HARRISBURG, Pa — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at privatizing liquor sales in the Commonwealth. House Bill 1690, sponsored by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, would allow businesses with restaurant liquor licenses, including grocers, to purchase expanded permits to sell a limited amount of takeout liquor and wine. Supermarkets would also have the option of buying a new wine-only permit to sell up to 12 bottles to-go at a time
“Once again, House Republicans led the charge to move Pennsylvania into the 21st century,” said Turzai. “This bill would responsibly and completely divest the state from both the wholesale and retail sale of wine and spirits and remove government from an archaic system that burdens taxpayers.”
Turzai highlighted the most recent evidence that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) conflict of interest in both selling and regulating is costing Pennsylvania taxpayers.
Turzai encouraged the Senate to pass the legislation as they did in June. He is also calling upon the governor to sign the legislation when it arrives at his desk.
“The governor has demanded an increase in revenues, and this measure does that with broad-based bipartisan support among the public,” he said.
Governor Wolf vetoed a privatization bill earlier this year.
Pennsylvania still remains one of only two states where government has full control of both retail and wholesale sale of wine and liquor.
