HARRISBURG – In a bipartisan 157-31 vote, the House approved Tuesday a Senate-amended plan to sell wine in grocery stores, increase opportunities for the sale of beer, and improve consumer convenience for overall liquor sales by Thanksgiving, Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) announced.
The bill, House Bill 1690, would allow for the sale of wine at grocery stores, select restaurants and hotels, which purchase the proper licenses. Six-pack shops will also be able to upgrade their licenses to a “full” restaurant license to be able to sell wine as well as beer.
“We’re in the 21st century, and our constituents ask for and expect better convenience and accessibility; this legislation provides it,” Reed said.
“These improvements to wine, beer and liquor sales include a number of changes requested by consumers and will allow consumers to buy wine at their grocery stores by Thanksgiving.”
House Bill 1690 includes a series of reforms for liquor and wine sales across the Commonwealth. It also allows private wine wholesalers to sell products directly to Commonwealth customers.
“This legislation will generate approximately $150 million initially and growing revenues each year to aid the budget,” Reed added. “It is time to put that money where it belongs, instead of propping up an antiquated and outdated liquor system.”
In addition to bringing consumer convenience to wine and liquor sales, the bill would also require a comprehensive study of the valuation of the state store system and various proposals to fully privatize liquor sales in the future.
Gov. Tom Wolf has indicated that he would sign the bill in its current form.