Pennsylvania beer distributors have been given the green light to begin selling 12-packs, according to a
legal advisory issued on Friday by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's Office of Chief Counsel.
For decades, distributors have only been permitted to sell cases and kegs of beer, compared with groceries, bars and convenience stores, which have had the freedom to sell six-packs, 12-packs and individual bottles, often at higher prices than distributors would provide, the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The revised rule, which clarifies Act 84 of 2006, enables brewers to sell 'original containers' to distributors as long as they contain at least 128 fluid ounces. Those 'original containers' must be specifically packaged by the manufacturer for resale to consumers.
The PLCB's advisory came after two Pennsylvania distributors, Pistella Beer Distributors of Friendship and Save-Mor Beer of Squirrel Hill, led the charge last year by suing the PLCB in the state's Commonwealth Court. Later, backing up a similar request by Rivertowne Brewing of Export, both companies asked for an opinion from the PLCB itself, which provided its answer Friday.
“It’s really the first real big change for us in 60 or 70 years,” said Steve Klein, owner of Sav-Mor. “It’s more variety for the consumer. People want the ability to buy different things.”
Change won't be immediate, as distributors and wholesale suppliers will have to bring in new inventory, but the decision comes amid larger debate about reform of Pennsylvania's liquor laws. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives
passed a proposal in February that would privatize state-controlled wine and liquor stores and would give private wholesalers direct control to market products to retailers.
The state Senate declined to move the legislation forward during the last session, and Gov. Tom Wolf is said to favor keeping and revamping the current state system.
Read the full Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article
here.
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