Some of your favorite alcohol brands are going to be more expensive starting next week.
Citing the record-high inflation rate last year, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board says over 3,550 products will see a 4 percent increase beginning on Sunday, January 15.
The PLCB says the increase will allow them to offset an 8 percent crease in operating cost over the past few years.
Popular items like Tito’s Vodka, New Amsterdam Vodka, Pink Whitney and Fireball are just some of the items that will be affected by the increase.
The distilled Spirts Council has sent out a release expressing concerns over the increase saying they were informed with only a 10-day notice.
“Ten days is not nearly enough time for spirits producers to plan for and adjust to price increases,” said Andy Deloney, Senior Vice President and Head of State Public Policy for the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS). “This last-minute push by an outgoing administration will have implications not only for spirits producers, but for the Pennsylvania hospitality industry and its consumers. These decisions should be part of a larger discussion with impacted stakeholders, yet this across-the-board increase was done without any consultation or collaboration. We are extremely disappointed in the process by which this increase was determined and hope the PLCB will adjust future plans to include consideration of the partners most heavily impacted by their unilateral decision-making.”
The PLCB had $3.02 billion in sales during the 2021-22 fiscal year, the first time that name was reached. That was also a 3.8 percent increase over the previous year.
“Pennsylvania consumers have long traveled to bordering states with more favorable markets for spirits products,” said Deloney. “Increasing prices only exacerbates cross-border sales and continues to drive consumers elsewhere.”