Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB 1154, a bill to make cocktails to-go permanent and allow the sale of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails from additional retail outlets that already sell malt- and wine-based RTDs. The bill now heads to the House for concurrence.
Fifteen states have currently made COVID-era cocktails to-go measures permanent. With the expiration of the governor’s emergency order yesterday, Pennsylvania restaurants and bars are no longer able to sell cocktails to-go.
“Pennsylvania’s hospitality businesses are still suffering from the huge economic impacts of COVID-19 and allowing this critical lifeline to expire will harm restaurants and bars,” said David Wojnar, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Senior Vice President and Head of State Public Policy. “We applaud the Senate for passing this bill and urge the House to do the same.”
Under the bill, spirits-based RTDs would be allowed to be sold from state stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, beer distributors and local bars. States across the U.S. are considering similar expansions to provide consumers with the same equal access to wine-, malt-/beer- and spirits-based RTD products in the marketplace.
“We thank the Senate for recognizing the increased consumer convenience that comes along with allowing more retail outlets to sell spirits-based RTDs,” Wojnar said. “At the beginning of the pandemic, PLCB stores were completely closed and consumers were forced to travel across state lines to purchase spirits. There is no reason outlets already selling beverage alcohol should be precluded from selling spirits-based RTDs.”
In Pennsylvania, there are 0.6 spirits outlets per 10,000 people – well below the national average of 3.4 outlets per 10,000 people.
Cocktails To-Go Background:
More than 35 states began allowing restaurants and/or bars to sell cocktails to-go as a COVID economic relief measure. Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Montana, Arkansas, West Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Kansas, Arizona, Nebraska, Oregon and the District of Columbia have all made COVID-era cocktails to-go measures permanent. Dozens of other states are also considering legislation to extend or make permanent cocktails to-go measures.
The distilled spirits industry is committed to responsibility and encourages moderation for adults who choose to drink alcohol. Cocktails to-go are intended for home consumption. Laws governing alcohol consumption must always be observed.