PLCB Approves Six-Pack Licenses at Gas Stations
Yesterday, we told you about Gov. Tom Wolf’s plea to “free the six-pack” at Pennsylvania gas stations. Wolf called for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to approve several licenses that
On cue, today the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approved nine applications yesterday. Several were from gas stations asking to be able to sell six-packs of beer (up to 192 fluid ounces at a time). Almost as if this were designed this way, Wolf then released a statement complete with hip graphic (above) declaring victory and praising the LCB. Hrmm.
“’Freeing the six-pack’ will make the commonwealth more inviting for customers and businesses,” Wolf said in the triumphant release. “I applaud the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for approving these applications and respectfully ask that they approve similar subsequent applications that otherwise meet PLCB standards in order to improve customer service and convenience for Pennsylvania.”
None of the new licenses are in the Philadelphia area. They’re clustered in Northeast and Western Pennsylvania. An LCB spokesperson said the board has licensed more than 300 grocery stores to sell beer; some have gas pumps.
Sheetz, the Wawa rival based in Altoona, opened a beer store with a separate entrance and register in 2014 in Shippensburg. The Court ruled it was acceptable as long as there were separate points of sale. Wolf supported this “separate entrance and register” mini-loophole in his letter yesterday.
The company has heavily promoted a law that would rescind the ban on six-pack sales at gas stations. The supporters of what they say are, technically, separate beer stores on gas station property — use some excellent wording: “Consumers want the convenience of buying beer at convenience restaurants that may have gas stations adjacent to them!” the site reads.
Sheetz sent out an overly-serious statement in advance of the LCB vote today. “We applaud Governor Wolf for this unprecedented and courageous move that clearly demonstrates not only his visionary leadership but most importantly demonstrates his commitment to his Pennsylvania constituents,” the company said in a statement emailed to Philadelphia magazine. Sheetz also operates locations that sell beer but do not have gas pumps, usually in college towns like State College and Morgantown, West Virginia.
The debate is not over. Beer distributors oppose the rule. “The governor’s misleading letter is an insult to Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, which will soon hear argument on this very issue,” a lawyer for the Malt Beverage Distributors Association told Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate. The Commonwealth Supreme Court is expected to take up the case this fall.
Follow @dhm on Twitter.
