Pennsylvania's Liquor Control Board has decided that as of November 1, Pennsylvania wineries will no longer be able to ship directly to consumers...even those within PA.
Why am I not surprised? I've often referred to my home state as a "communist-run police state" because of it's outdated and ridiculous liquor laws. Rather than allow out-of-state wineries to ship in...they've decided to shut it all down. Nice move guys...real nice.
Again, I'm not shocked, but I'm disappointed. I have a lot of friends and family back home in Pittsburgh that would love to order the wines I write about here on LENNDEVOURS. But, NY wineries aren't allowed to ship to PA and haven't been for eons. There was once a glimmer of hope that the Supreme Court's decision this summer would open the state up...but it looks like PA is heading the other way.
And now they've decided that killing 100 in-state wineries is the way to go. Brilliant.
Hey, now. Give the commies some credit: Draconian liquor control laws are reserved for Puritan-run police states :)
Posted by: Mithrandir | October 04, 2005 at 02:43 PM
And I thought it was only in Ontario where we had stupid liquor laws. At least here, wineries are able to ship directly.
But the liquor and wine market is pretty much controlled by a government monopoly called the "LCBO" - Liquor Control Board Of Ontario.
You can buy some wines in some boutique type stores, but mostly you are bound by the hours of the local LCBO store to purchase your wines and liquors.
Even beer in Ontario is sold only through a government approved "Beer Store," which is operated by the major breweries - basically a conglomerate where competition and free market choice is not allowed.
Posted by: Ian Scott | October 04, 2005 at 03:47 PM
Positively Puritanical! Do they burn witches there too? I think the Utah Division of alcoholic Beverage Control should swap ideas with the PA folks. I'm sure they can come up with even more ways to screw wineries.
Posted by: beau | October 04, 2005 at 07:31 PM
It's pathetic, but typical. This is all about the fact that Pennsylvania makes a lot of revenue from its liquor stores, and isn't about to give any of that up. You won't see our extremely conservative state legislature approving state ownership of anything else.
It is a hoot watching new folks from out of state try to figure out how to buy beer here. When they find out they can't get it at the grocery store-they think they'll get it at the State Liquor Store. Ha!
No such luck- must find a beer distributor, where they have to get a whole case. The only place they can get a six pack, is at certain bars or deli/restaurants. But not all of them!
Usually it takes a month or two for the poor dears to sort it out!
Posted by: Lindy | October 04, 2005 at 09:41 PM