A bill in the Pennsylvania Senate could make ready-to-drink cocktails available across the state.
Senator Mike Regan of Cumberland and York Counties, who introduced the bill says that it would allow low-alcohol-by-volume spirits ready-to-drink cocktails to be sold at state stores, grocery stories restaurants and convenience stores.
Beer and wine-based drinks are already available.
“In Pennsylvania, beer- and wine-based RTDs can be sold in nearly 11,000 locations, including grocery and convenience stores,” Regan. “Meanwhile, spirits RTDs with the same or lower amounts of alcohol can only be sold in about 600 locations. My bill helps level the playing field for these comparable products, providing economic opportunity to thousands of Pennsylvania businesses and increasing consumer convenience.”
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States supports the bill and says it will help small businesses and craft distilleries across the state “as well as the many grocery and convenience stores that will sell their products.”
“By applying the 18% liquor tax to RTDs containing up to 12.5% alcohol and expanding access to these products, the state could gain between $153.3 and $184.5 million in new revenue over the course of three years,” DISCUS said in a statement.