Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is the independent state government agency in Pennsylvania that manages the beverage alcohol industry in the state under the regulations of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code. The board is responsible for licensing the possession, sale, storage, transportation, importation, and manufacture of wine, spirits, malt or brewed beverages, and operating the state's system of liquor distribution, including retail sales, and providing education about harmful effects associated with underage and dangerous drinking.[1]

The agency is headquartered is in the Northwest Office Building in Harrisburg, the state capital.[2]

History

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board was established in conjunction with the 21st Amendment and the repeal of prohibition. In 1933, just four days before the sale of alcohol became legal in Pennsylvania, the board was officially organized. Then Pennsylvania governor Gifford Pinchot is sometimes inaccurately quoted as having said that the purpose of the board was to "discourage the purchase of alcoholic beverages by making it as inconvenient and expensive as possible," when he believed that state control was the best way to manage the state's obligations under federal prohibition.

Privatization support

For over forty years, starting with the administration of Governor Milton Shapp, efforts have existed to abolish the Board and privatize liquor sales in Pennsylvania. Critics of the Board argue that the commonwealth would generate significant income by selling state liquor stores to private entities while continuing to reap millions in annual sales taxes from alcohol sales and liquor tax revenues. Further, it has been cited that customers could benefit from lower prices, longer hours and wider selection at privately run liquor stores.

In addition, privatizing liquor sales would allow the commonwealth to recoup taxes from sales in neighboring states such as New Jersey, Ohio and Delaware. Despite these arguments, efforts to privatize have largely stalled. According to former governor Dick Thornburgh, "the principal roadblock to reform has traditionally been an odd coalition of state store employee unions, fundamentalist anti-alcohol groups and organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, all of which perceive that they have legitimate interests which are not susceptible to statewide budgetary considerations. It would take some courageous leadership to stare down this combination, something I do not see in the commonwealth today."[19]

In September 2014, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives proposed a bill that would decriminalize purchasing wine and liquor in other states and transporting it to the state.[20]

Opponents of privatization argued that keeping the stores public would generate significantly more money over time, as well as keep over 5,000 employees from losing their jobs, pensions, and health benefits, many of whom are elderly. LCB employees are commonwealth employees, with the same benefits as other agencies, but a smaller proportion would be eligible for state-worker-style benefits than among other PA government workers: In 2014-2015, 44% of the total 4,250 employees at LCB stores was seasonal or part-time.[14]

On July 2, 2015, Governor Tom Wolf vetoed the first-ever privatization bill to reach the governor's desk.[21]

On August 8, 2016, Wolf signed into law a bill that allowed for some privatization but kept wine distribution under state control.[22]

A subsequent campaign to further privatize by State Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny) in 2022 was opposed by LCB employees and also their union, the United Food and Commercial Workers. [23]

jurisdiction	Pennsylvania
headquarters	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
chief1 name	Darrell L. Clarke
chief1 position	Chairman
website	Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

History

Programs to deter underage drinking

Quotas

Board members and their terms of service

Privatization support

See also

External links

References