Beer on display at the beer garden at the ShopRite in Fairless Hills.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said he plans to sign a bill into law that will allow area beer distributors to sell more than cases, 12-packs and kegs.
The bill, which has been passed by the state legislature, will allow the beer distributors to sell six-packs along with growlers and single cans of beer. The new law also will give the green light to various minor changes such as allowing mead to be sold at farmer’s markets.
Patricia Argenti, the owner of Penn Thrift Beverage on New Falls Road in Levittown, told NewtownPANow.com that she believes the change in the law will level the playing field for businesses and benefit consumers in the Keystone State.
“I have to say this is a quiet a change for Pennsylvania” she said. “Customers had limited choice when they went to the the beer distributor.”
At Newtown Beer on Centre Street, owner Dennis Jenkins said the change in the law will benefit customers who want to purchase six-packs.
Argenti said the update to state regulations will allow beer distributors to sell more products and strengthen their businesses.
Newtown Beer and Penn Thrift Beverage have both seen growing interest from consumers looking to buy craft and micro-brews, the owners said.
A popular purchase at the Levittown store is customers mixing and matching craft beers and purchasing them as a 12-pack, Argenti said.
Recent years have opened up Pennsylvania’s Prohabition-era strict rules governing alcohol sales. Some gas stations can now sell beer, breweries have more options in selling alcohol not produced in-house and grocery stores can apply to sell wine.
“I have worked hard with Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly to modernize the sale of liquor, wine, and beer in Pennsylvania in order to bring the commonwealth’s wine and spirits system into the 21st century,” Wolf said in a statement.
The state’s alcohol laws and regulations continue to be an issue in Harrisburg and likely will continue to be in the coming years.
