Pa. committee passes bill to privatize liquor sales - abc27 WHTM

Pa. committee passes bill to privatize liquor sales

The House Liquor Control Committee has voted out legislation to get Pennsylvania out of the business of selling wine and liquor.

An amended version of House Bill 790 was sent to the full House by a vote of 14-10.

The amended bill would allow beer distributors to sell liquor and wine, as well as beer. Distributors would also get the first chance to buy 1,200 liquor and wine sales licenses, and remaining licenses would be sold to other buyers after one year.

Grocery stores would be able to sell bottles of wine and six-packs of beer.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board would continue to operate state stores until retail outlets are double the current state-operated shops.

Governor Tom Corbett, who unveiled the plan in January, called the committee vote a "momentous, first step to bring Pennsylvania into the 21st century." He said the legislation will "provide Pennsylvanians with the convenience and choice that Americans in 48 other states enjoy."