PA Liquor Board Updates Lawmakers On Expansion Of Wine Sales

PITTSBURGH (News-Radio 1020 KDKA) - Members of the Liquor Control Board this past week updated state lawmakers on the efforts to implement sweeping changes to the sale of wine called for in a new law enacted in June.

Liquor Control Board Chairman Tim Holden gave numbers on the expanded permits authorized by the new law that allow sales of wine by the bottle.

"So far, the PLCB has issued approximately 280 wine expanded permits to restaurant licensees, including grocery stores, convenience stores, and traditional restaurants," Holden said.

In the coming year, Holden says he expects the number of wine expanded permits to total more than 600. Meanwhile, the LCB has auctioned off the first 40 of 1,200 or so lapsed licenses, or "zombie" liquor licenses.

He says he expects as many as three or four auctions of 40 or more next year.

Holden told lawmakers that so far, 670 direct wine shipper licenses have been issued, and that the number of state stores open on Sundays has grown from 188 to 323.

Like NewsRadio 1020 KDKA On Facebook
Follow NewsRadio 1020 KDKA On Twitter