Alcohol laws of Pennsylvania

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Location of Pennsylvania

The alcohol laws of Pennsylvania contain many peculiarities not found in other states, and are considered some of the strictest regulations in the United States.[1][2][3]

Alcohol sales[edit]

For consumption off-premises[edit]

Pennsylvania is an alcoholic beverage control state. Wine and spirits are to be sold only in the state owned Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores, where all prices must remain the same throughout the state (county sales tax may cause the price to differ slightly). People under the age of 21 are allowed to enter Fine Wine and 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 liquor may be sold from 12pm until 7pm.

Wineries are common throughout the commonwealth, and often sell their wines at storefronts in shopping malls, and 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.[4][5]

Beer may only be purchased from a restaurant, bar, licensed beer store, or distributor. Beer distributors mainly sell kegs of beer and cases. A beer distributor is also allowed to sell any package intended for resale by a PLCB-approved brewery containing any variety of bottle/can arrangements greater than or equal to 128 ounces. Six and twelve packs, along with individual bottles such as 40 ounce or 24 ounce beers, are sold at bars, restaurants, and licensed retailers. A license granted to a bar or restaurant permits the licensee to sell up to 192 fluid ounces of beer per purchase. For larger quantities one must go to a beverage distributor which sells beer only by the 12-pack, case or keg. 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 is 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 11AM are not permitted.[6] Although state law permits late-night beer distributors, local authorities can place additional restrictions, and stores typically close before 10 pm.

Some supermarkets, including Wegmans, Giant Eagle, Giant, 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). Supermarket chain ShopRite has begun to attach Wine and 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.[7] After several debates, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that the store must sell beer to in-house customers as well as take-out.[8] The 17th Street store now again sells beer and allows limited in store consumption.[9]

For consumption on-premises[edit]

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

Attempts to privatize[edit]

Pennsylvania state law makers 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 has been the focus of some controversy. This controversy is due to the budget deficit that the commonwealth faces. Supporters of the bill argue the sales taxes, and selling licenses 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.[10]

Drinking age[edit]

The minimum drinking age in Pennsylvania 21 years, like any other state in the country. Minors are prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or consuming alcohol, even if it is furnished by the minor's immediate family. Persons over the age of 18 are permitted to serve alcohol, so an exception is made in the possession portion of the law in this respect. Many states have exceptions for consuming alcohol made for religious or medicinal purposes, but Pennsylvania does not have exceptions for either.[11]

A person under the age of 21 may also be arrested, charged, and convicted of underage drinking through constructive possession, even if they had not consumed any alcohol, simply by being in the presence of alcohol. This is mainly exercised when officials break up large parties or other events where alcohol is being consumed and the issuance of chemical tests to every individual is deemed impractical.

Drunk driving[edit]

Like every other state in the United States, driving (driving, operating or being in actual physical control of the movement of vehicle) under the influence is a crime in Pennsylvania, and is subject to a great number of regulations outside of the state's alcohol laws. Pennsylvania's maximum blood alcohol level for driving is 0.08% for persons at or over the age of 21 (with suspension of license on the first offense), and 0.04% for a person operating a commercial vehicle (0.02% for a school bus) with revoking of the license on the first offense.[12] For those under 21, Pennsylvania follows a "zero tolerance" policy, meaning that any BAC over 0.02% is enough to warrant a DUI (the small allowance is for certain medicinal purposes such as some cold medicines that contain alcohol). Penalties include fines, license suspension, and possible imprisonment.[13]

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Cowell, Tom (January 12, 2010). "PA's Disgraceful Liquor Laws". Philadelphia Weekly. Review Publishing Limited Partnership. Retrieved June 6, 2014. 
  2. ^ "45 States That Allow Underage (under 21) Alcohol Consumption - Minimum Legal Drinking Age -". Retrieved 24 September 2014. 
  3. ^ Baylen Linnekin (December 20, 2014). "Cops Seized Couple's $160,000 Wine Collection—And Want to Destroy It All: When it comes to alcohol laws, Pennsylvania is about as close to Saudi Arabia as you can get in America". 
  4. ^ "Pennsylvania introduces first wine 'kiosks' - Business - US business - Food Inc. - NBC News". Retrieved 24 September 2014. 
  5. ^ "State Pulls Plug On Wine Kiosk Program". WGAL. Retrieved 24 September 2014. 
  6. ^ "Types of Licences". The Pennsylvania Liquor License Company. Retrieved 11 January 2014. 
  7. ^ "A convenience store to sell beer in Pa". 2007-02-01. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-06. 
  8. ^ Malloy, Daniel (2009-06-16). "Court OKs beer to-go but Sheetz must also sell on-site". Retrieved 2009-09-06. 
  9. ^ "Pa. Supreme Court Stops Sales Of Takeout Beer At Altoona Sheetz". Retrieved 2013-05-23. 
  10. ^ Couloumbis, Angela (2012-06-09). "Showdown vote promised on Pa. liquor system - with beer in the mix". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. Retrieved 2017-01-10. 
  11. ^ "Eight Different Exceptions to the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) of 21". Retrieved 25 April 2014. 
  12. ^
  13. ^ Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (2005-02-16). "edu: Pennsylvania's Zero Tolerance Law". Archived from the original on September 25, 2006. Retrieved 2009-09-06.