PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania State Legislature held a joint hearing about two-bottle limits imposed by the state liquor control board on a few dozen liquors and wines, and state lawmakers fell into familiar camps.
Generally, state lawmakers who support the state being in the liquor business support the bottle limit, while those against the state-run liquor stores were against it.
“I was just recently in North Carolina which is a control-state and South Carolina which is not. You can’t find those products there either. They’re not on the shelves," said State Representative Anita Kulik (D-Allegheny County)
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State Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny and Westmoreland counties) noted repeatedly that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board brought in almost $3 billion in revenue to the state.
“We’re driving by car lots now where there’s not one automobile sitting in a car dealership, so this is not unique to liquor," said Brewster.
“Why make this splash with these particular 43 products and what is the effect of that?" retorted Representative Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Bedford and Somerset counties).
"Wouldn’t saying that we’re rationing actually cause what you’re saying your trying to avoid, which is the overrun on demand?”
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“The alternative to this is not having any sort of restrictions, and hoarding begins because there is considered to be a shortage out there," said PLCB Board Member Mike Negra.
Board Chair Tim Holden noted many of the 43 items on the list are duplicates, the same product in different-sized bottles. He added the decision to limit some bottles was not made lightly.
“We wanted fair distribution of the products to all the citizens of the commonwealth, and we examined multiple options," said Holden.
“Some manufacturers have not been able to obtain the necessary raw materials to manufacture their products, while others can’t obtain sufficient supplies to bottle their product, and still others are facing transportation challenges.”
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Other state lawmakers pointed out the liquor shortage is hitting all parts of the country, including in states that don’t own and run liquor stores.
The list includes wines, bourbons, tequilas, and cognacs.
Several state lawmakers criticized the PLCB for including bars and restaurants in the two-bottle limit.
In the hearing, it was noted bourbon maker Jim Beam was moving to plastic bottles. Jack Daniels, which is on the limited list, will not.
Holden said the inventory uncertainty is expected to last well into next year but the PLCB will rescind purchase limits as availability changes.
The House Liquor Control Committee and the Senate Law and Justice Committee held the hearing.
