Under the bill, consumers would be required to verify their age and sign for shipments. Wineries would be required to collect taxes prior to shipping and to pay a $100 state registration fee annually along with reporting requirements to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Pennsylvania is one of 14 states that restricts the shipping of wine to its residents. The State’s ban on direct shipment of wine has been a long standing concern integral to the wider debate on the future of the Pennsylvania’s state-controlled liquor store system. While proponents of the bill believe the legislation offers Pennsylvania residents a bit more liquor freedom while bolstering state revenue, Senator Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. D-Philadelphia, a co-sponsor of the bill voiced his disappointment arguing that late surfacing amendments to the bill shuts out “90 percent of the world’s wine” from French, German, Australian and other imports thus “giving the people of Pennsylvania less that what they should be getting”.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is the largest purchased of wine and spirits in the United States with sales topping $1.9 billion.

Three large changes have occurred for Pennsylvania’s Limited Wineries.

1) Effective immediately a limited winery can sell food for consumption on or off the main licensed premises and at its additional Board approved locations. It can also now sell wine by the glass at both its main premises and its satellite locations.

2) Effective immediately, a limited winery is now allowed to sell its alcoholic products from 9:00 am to 11:00 p.m, extending from the old 9:00 p.m. closing. The old law regarding expanded hours for the holiday period has been deleted.

3) Effective July 28, 2011, a limited winery will be able to apply for a “farmers market permit” for the sale of its product at more than one (1) famers market at any given time. The permit fee is $250.00 annually and there is no limit as to the number of days it can be used in that year. The limited winery can sell by the bottle or in case lots. All sales must occur during the standard operating hours of the farmers market. Samples must be free and cannot exceed one (1) fluid ounce per brand.

For more on the new changes to the liquor laws read: What Licensees Should Know About Act 11 of 2011.

Go now and make your nomination! 2011 Wine Blog Awards

Members of the Beer, Wine & Spirit Industry joined together recently to urge members of Congress to oppose the “Community Alchohol Regulatory Effectiveness” Act of 2011 (CARE), the legislation (H.R. 1161) sponsored by the wholesellers tier of the Alcohol Beverage Industry.

Wine America, The Brewers Association, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Wine Institute, Beer Institute, and the National Association of Beverage Importers strongly oppose H.R 1161. In their recent letter to Congress, the producers stated “We strongly oppose H.R. 1161, which like its predecessor in the last Congress, is unnecessary. Its provisions would harm consumers and the marketplace, limit consumer choice, and allow states to enact protectionist and anti-competitive laws. It this bill becomes law, it would make it much harder for brewers, vintners, distillers, and importors to get their products to market.”

To view the entire letter, read here.

Much like the legislation introduced last year, the bill is aimed at ensuring that state governments maintain their ability to regulate alcohol and strengthens the state’s ability to pass laws that would effectively ban direct shipping of wine. Today, Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-I) issued strong opposition to the re-introduction of H.R. 1161 stating that “The federal government has no business picking winners and losers in the wine, beer, and distilled spirits industry.

For more on this new legislation, read: Wine Spectator’s U.S.Congressman Introduces New Act Threatening Direct Shipping.

Currently, “happy hours” are limited to two consecutive hours per day, with a 14 hour per week limit. The proposed changes would allow establishments to hold happy hours up to 14 hours a day but still be limited to not more than 14 hours a week. The 14 hours could be divided up however the proprietor wants thus allowing for greater flexibility. Happy hours would remain prohibited after midnight.

Under current law a restaurant with a liquor license cannot serve alcohol at off site catered events. The proposed legislative change would allow a restaurant’s liquor license to be valid for off premise catering. The proposed changes would not effect dry communities. Serving alcohol in dry communities would remain prohibited.

Finally, the proposed legislation would allow a patron to buy up to three bottles of unopened wine and take it home. Albeit this can be routinely a more expensive way to buy wine, proponents of the bill believe this change allows the customer a way to buy those “hard to find” wines.

In that the proposed legislation House Bill 148 is aimed at modernizing the state’s liquor code, Payne’s proposal has the support of the Pennsylvania Tavern and Restaurant Associations.

Many state governments are moving to limit the sale of these products or to ban them outright. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has sent letters to the state’s 17,000 beer distributors encouraging them to cease the sale of the drinks until a FDA investigation determines the products safety.

Today Senator Charles Schumer D-NY, issued a press release announcing that the Food and Drug Administration will rule that producers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages are marketing products that are considered to be unsafe and should be banned from the market. For more on these developments read here: Schumer:FDA To Effectively Ban Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks.