Liquor Licenses
Tripp and Reed
12-15-09
Package
TRT 2:30
(Anchor)
GROCERY STORES ACROSS THE STATE
CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM LOOSER
ALCOHOL SALE RESTRICTIONS. NOW, A
POPULAR CONVIENCE STORE CHAIN
WANTS TO GET IN ON THE ACT. C-C-R’S
BRIAN TRIPP REPORTS.
Take Pkg----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------2:15 RT
JUST SIX MONTHS AGO, ONE SHEETZ
Locator: Centre County, PA
LOCATION IN ALTOONA OFFERED
CUSTOMERS A UNIQUE OPTION
UNHEARD OF THROUGHOUT
PENNSYLVANIA. WITH A RESTAURANT
LOCATED INSIDE, THE POPULAR GAS
STATION AND CONVENIENCE STORE
WAS ALLOWED TO SELL ALCOHOL TO
ITS PATRONS. HOWEVER, SHEETZ
ONLY SOLD ALCOHOL FOR TAKE-OUT
USE. THIS VIOLATED STATE LIQUOR
CONTROL BOARD REGULATIONS FOR
FULL SCREEN GRAPHIC --------------“Interpreting section 102 as permitting
retail dispensers to sell beer solely for
RETAIL DISPENSERS. ACCORDING TO
takeout, without such purchases being
incident to the general sale of beer for
consumption on the premises, affords
the retail dispenser the benefits of a
distributor license without imposing the
accompanying restrictions…”
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court: June 15,
2009
SUPREME COURT DOCUMENTS THE
STORE WAS IMPROPERLY GRANTED A
LICENCSE BECAUSE IT WAS SELLING
SIX-PACKS, INSTEAD OF CASES, AND
ALCOHOL WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR SITDOWN CUSTOMERS.
NOW, SHEETZ OFFICIALS ARE
BREWING ANOTHER STORM. ON
NOVEMBER 1ST, THE ALTOONA-BASED
CHAIN LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO
CHANGE THE LAWS FOR DISTRIBUTING
AND SELLING ALCOHOL. AT
FREEMYBEER DOT COM ANYONE OVER
THE AGE OF 21 CAN SIGN A PETITION
TO BE SENT TO STATE
REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THE ISSUE.
MEANWHILE, MALT BEVERAGE
DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION VICE
PRESIDENT CHRIS HICKEY BELIEVES
ALCOHOL SHOULD BE REGULATED
DIFFERENT FROM GROCERY PRODUCTS
Hickey SOT -------------------------------SUPER: Chris Hickey
MBDA Vice President
--------------------------------------------------
“It is alcohol. It is a differently regulated
commodity. It is not to get in the hands
of underage people. And beer
distributors are in a much better
position to regulate that than
convenience stores and supermarkets. “
TRIPP Standup -----------------------Super: Brian Tripp
Centre County Report
(STAND-UP)
“WHILE SHEETZ CONTINUES IT’S
BATTLE TO SELL ALCOHOL, RESIDENTS
OF STATE COLLEGE CAN GO TO A
LOCAL WEGMANS TO GET THEIR
GROCERY AND ALCOHOL SHOPPING
DONE IN THE SAME PLACE.”
IN THE SPRING OF 2008, SIX
PENNSYLVANIA WEGMANS STORES,
INCLUDING THE ONE IN STATE
COLLEGE , WERE APPROVED TO SELL
BEER FOR TAKEOUT AND INSTORE USE.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE 13 WEGMANS
STORES ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA
ALLOWED TO SELL ALCOHOL. JUST
LIKE WITH SHEETZ, THE MALT
BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTORS
ASSOCIATION WILL GO TO THE
PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT IN
FEAR OF SUPERSTORES SUCH AS
WALMART FOLLOWING, RENDERING
DISTIBUTORS ALMOST OBSOLETE.
HOWEVER STATE COLLEGE COUNCIL
MEMBER DONALD HAHN DOESN’T
NECESSARILY BELIEVE CHANGE IS A
BAD THING
HAHN SOT -----------------------------------SUPER: Donald Hahn
State College Council Member
“I think that certainly personally I would
prefer to be able to go to Wegmans or
Weis or wherever and be able to pick up
a bottle of wine.”
ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATIONS
WEBSITE A HEARING IS TO BE
SCHEDULED IN MARCH OR APRIL, WITH
A RULING FOLLOWING SIX MONTHS
LATER. REPORTING IN CENTRE
TAKE ANCHOR --------------------------------
COUNTY I’M BRIAN TRIPP.
(ANCHOR)
PENNSYLVANIA IS JUST ONE OF SIX
STATES THAT DOES NOT ALLOW BEER
SALES IN TYPICAL SUPERMARKETS
AND CONVENIENCE STORES.