As of today, Pennsylvanians are witnessing a significant shift in liquor accessibility, with grocery stores and gas stations now legally selling canned cocktails and hard seltzers. As reported by FOX 29, Governor Josh Shapiro has been instrumental in enacting the bipartisan legislation redefining the state's alcohol landscape; the Governor signed the bill last month and is celebrating this move towards "real freedom" in Pennsylvania on social media.
This law opens doors for businesses that already deal with alcohol to diversify their product offerings, including selling beverages such as High Noon and Surfside, which, before this change, were exclusively available at state-run liquor stores, according to information from CBS News. These drinks, ranging from 0.5% to 12.5% ABV, can be sold in original containers with a cap of 16 ounces per can.
Moreover, a cap on sales with a single purchase limited to 192 ounces could translate to a pack of twelve 16 oz. cans, adding some degree of control to this newfound accessibility; this comes alongside the recent expansion of happy hours from 14 hours to a notable 24 hours per week at bars and restaurants, enhancing the state's hospitality scene.
With such a historic redefinition of alcohol sales structure since the days of Prohibition, the new permit system is exclusive to establishments that already sell beer and wine, and, as reported by WGAL, sales are required to end by 11 p.m. each day, a measure likely designed to keep some regulatory control amidst the wider availability of liquor-based products.
