It’s that time again folks! The nomination period is open for the 2011 Wine Blog Awards. We can look forward again to seeing which social media wine bloggers are giving American media a run for its juice. Will your winery’s blog be chosen to be amongst this year’s nominees?
Go now and make your nomination! 2011 Wine Blog Awards
State Rep. John Payne, R-Derry Twp plans to introduce a bill to allow the the state’s 1200 beer distributors to apply for a free permit to carry wine and spirits at your local beer distributor. Permits to wholesalers would cost $50 million. Payne’s proposal in the debate on privatization of the state’s liquor stores would leave the Pennsylvania Wine and Spirit stores intact. For more on the debate read: Pennlive.com: Wine and Spirits At Beer Distributors?
The wine wars continue.
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.
A legislative bill by state Rep. John Payne, R-Dauphin was unanimously approved by the state’s House Liquor Control Committee and now moves to the full House for consideration. The bill would allow the restaurant and hospitality industry in Pennsylvania 
to have longer “happy hours”. The bill is aimed at giving restaurants and bars greater flexibility and would also allow them to sell more wine to patrons for off premise consumption at offsite catering events.
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.
Federal regulators are preparing to ban the drink Four Loko and other manufacturers of similar alcoholic energy drinks following numerous deaths of 
young people who are drinking the fruity flavored caffeinated alcohol energy drink.
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.
A recent study by the Commonwealth Foundation indicates that Pennsylvania’s rates of underage drinking hasn’t largely declined as a result of public versus privately controlled liquor system. Has the time come that selling off state liquor stores is now a good idea? Read also the: Lehigh Valley ‘s The Express-Times: Study Shows Pennsylvania Liquor Control System Doesn’t Significantly Underage Drinking, Drinking Driving Fatalities.
Have you ever been curious as to why all the liquor stores in Pennsylvania are stated owned and
operated? Have you ever wondered why Pennsylvania is routinely referred to as a “control state?” You may be surprised to learn that Pennsylvania’s alcohol and beverage industry is run by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).
The PLCB is an administrative board consisting of three members each appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania with advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senate. The three PLCB members are Chairman Patrick J. Stapleton III, Thomas F. Goldsmith, and Robert S. Marcus.
The PLCB’s acts as both participant and regulator in Pennsylvania’s alcohol and beverage industry. In the beer industry, PLCB acts as regulator only. As a “control” state, Pennsylvania restricts private retail ownership of distribution outlets in the state. The PLCB acts as wholesaler, purchasing liquor from manufacturers. The PLCB then sells liquor to its liquor licensees who in turn sell to the public for on-premise consumption. As retailer, PLCB sells to the consumer via its state store system for off premise consumption. These stores are known as “Wine and Spirit” stores. The PLCB is one of the largest purchasers of wine and spirits in the United States. Sales at state operated Wine and Spirit stores reached a record 1.84 Billion in fiscal year 2008-2009.
Enforcement of Pennsylvania’s liquor laws is handled by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE). Today the PLCB operates over 600 stores. The PLCB issues and renews approximately 21,000 licenses annually.
Licensing by the PLCB is based on a quota system. The PLCB limits the number of liquor licenses based on population. The license application process is governed by the Liquor Code and Board Regulations.
So who’s in control of the Commonwealth’s liquor industry? The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board that’s who!!
