Alcohol laws of Pennsylvania

Retail liquor licenses can sell liquor, wine, malt, and brewed beverages for consumption on-premises. A restaurant or hotel, who has sold a customer a bottle of wine with a meal consumed on-premises, may allow the patron to take the bottle off-premises as long as it is re-sealed.

A peculiarity not found in many other states is that brewed or malt beverages can be sold for off-premises consumption in quantities less than or equal to 192 ounces (generally 6-packs and 12-packs of beer). Thus, many bars and restaurants double as beer stores.

For both types of retail licenses, serving hours are from 7:00 am to 2:00 am Monday through Saturday, and from 11:00 am to 2:00 am on Sunday, provided the establishment has a Sunday Sales Permit. There are further exceptions where one can serve earlier than 11:00 am.

Additional license categories:

• Restaurant Liquor - A restaurant that must have a minimum of 400 sq. ft. and seating for 30 patrons
• Hotel Liquor
• Municipal Golf Course Liquor
• Airport Restaurant Liquor
• Privately-Owned Public Golf Course Restaurant Liquor
• Off-Track Wagering Restaurant Liquor

Retail dispenser licenses are under the same restrictions as the retail liquor licenses, except they are limited to brewed and malt beverages only.

Additional license categories:

• Eating Place Retail Dispenser - Must have a minimum of 300 sq. ft. and seating for 30 patrons. These are generally delis or corner stores.
• Hotel Retail Dispenser
• Municipal Golf Course Retail Dispenser
• Privately-Owned Public Golf Course Eating Place Retail Dispenser

Club licenses include private members-only fraternal organizations. Clubs may operate later than restaurants, until 3:00 am.[8]

The distributor license applies to establishments selling larger quantities of beer, generally cases and kegs.

Fine Wine & Good Spirits store in Horsham, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is an alcoholic beverage control state. Spirits are to be sold only in the state owned Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores, which also sell wine, but not beer. Prices are generally the same throughout the state, but state stores may offer special discounts and sales,[9] and county sales tax may cause the price to differ slightly. People under the age of 21 are allowed to enter Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores, contrary to popular belief, but only if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Monday through Saturday, a store may open as early as 9 am and close as late as 10 pm. On Sunday, many stores sell liquor from 11 am until 7pm, depending on the district, county, and level classification of the store.[10]

Wineries are common throughout the Commonwealth, and often sell their wines at storefronts in shopping malls; persons under the age of 21 are permitted to enter these establishments. Wine was available for a short time in supermarket kiosks, but this practice has ended.[11][12] Many supermarkets now operate restaurants at which they are permitted to sell small quantities of wine as well as beer (see below).

Beer may only be purchased from a distributor or in limited quantities at many supermarkets. Beverage distributors are permitted to sell beer in any amount whereas supermarkets have quantity restrictions. Beverage distributors (which also sell soft drinks) may sell beer and malt liquor, but not wine or hard liquor. People under 21 may enter most beverage distributors without an adult, since most distributors also sell water, soda, ice, and some snack foods. They are subject to the rules of the individual establishment.

The hours of operation of beer distributors are typically similar to that of Wine and Spirits stores and other retail establishments. These hours are only restricted by the state on Sundays, where a special license is required to sell beer, and sales before 9 am are not permitted.[13] Although state law permits late-night beer distributors, local authorities can place additional restrictions, and stores typically close before 10 pm.

Beer and wine in small quantities may be purchased from a restaurant, bar, or licensed retailer. These establishments may sell six and twelve packs of beer, along with individual bottles such as 40 ounce or 24 ounce beers. Their licenses permit them to sell up to 192 fluid ounces of beer per purchase. They may also sell up to 3 liters of wine per purchase.[9]

Some supermarkets, including Acme, Giant, Giant Eagle, Redner's, Wegmans, and Weis, have begun to sell alcohol within restaurants attached to the main supermarket building, but only under very specific conditions (the restaurant must have a defined separation from the rest of the supermarket, a separate cashier, and seating for at least 30 patrons).[14] Supermarket chain ShopRite has begun to attach Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores to its stores.

For a time, Sheetz obtained a liquor license for a restaurant attached to one of its convenience stores in Altoona.[15] After several debates, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that the store must sell beer to in-house customers as well as take-out.[16] The 17th Street store now again sells beer and allows limited in store consumption.[17] Today, Sheetz sells beer and wine at many Pennsylvania locations. In 2015, a Wawa convenience store location in Chadds Ford was given approval to sell beer as part of a pilot.[18] Several Rutter's convenience stores in Central Pennsylvania sell beer and wine.[19][20]

Governor Tom Wolf signed Act 39 into law on June 8, 2016, which allowed for wine sales at supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels.[21] On August 8, 2016, Act 39 went into effect.[22] The act also allowed for additional alcohol licenses at retailers across the state.[23]

Closing time for restaurants and bars in Pennsylvania is 2 am and for private clubs is 3 am.

Pennsylvania state lawmakers have attempted to privatize the sales of wine and spirits in the commonwealth. The state has had a monopoly over the sales of wine and spirits since the repeal of Prohibition. In the 2011 legislative session, the privatization of sales of wine and spirits was the focus of some controversy. This controversy is due to the budget deficit that the commonwealth faces. Supporters of the bill argue that sales taxes and license sales could generate nearly $1 billion worth of revenue for the state.

In the 2012 session, House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, with the backing of Governor Tom Corbett, announced a plan to issue 1,600 new liquor store licenses and auction the 600-plus liquor stores currently owned by the state. Stores would be allowed to sell beer in any configuration and without limit. Supporters say it could raise as much as $1.6 billion for the state. Opponents say that the proposed pricing would make it difficult for mom-and-pop stores to afford such licenses. Major opponents include the liquor store clerks union and the Pennsylvania Beer Alliance.[24]