Pennsylvania legalises RTD sales at grocery stores

As of this week, sales of canned cocktails are now legal at grocery stores and gas stations in the US state of Pennsylvania.

The bill was signed into law by state Governor Josh Shapiro in July, allowing more than 12,400 establishments across the state, from bars to convenience stores, to sell pre-mixed alcoholic drinks in cans, on the condition that they were already licensed to sell alcohol, and that they applied for an extra permit. Previously, such beverages could only be sold at state-owned liquor stores.

Other conditions of the bill posit that the cans can be no more than 16 ounces (around 450 millilitres) in size, and contain a drink with an ABV of no more than 12.5%.

Shapiro Tweeted yesterday: “Starting today [16 September], you can get canned cocktails and hard seltzers at your local gas station or grocery store. We worked across the aisle — bringing Democrats and Republicans together — to advance real freedom here in PA.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 688, was sponsored by Republican Senator Mike Regan. Both he and Shapiro will engage in a publicity visit to an outpost of convenience store Rutter’s today (17 September) to take advantage of the reform and buy RTDs for themselves.

However, Regan did still have criticisms.

“This is in no way the most cost-effective or efficient way of getting RTDs on the shelves of retailers,” Regan lamented. “That part has been left out because the unbreakable union entanglement in liquor issues has once again unnecessarily put self-interest above all else. Despite this, we have still achieved something that no one in the Legislature has done in 91 years. We are allowing consumers the ability to buy spirits-based products along with wine, beer and even their groceries.”

According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, this new extension could raise US$137 million in tax revenue over the course of the next five years.

Prior to this new bill, Pennsylvania has some of the strictest laws surrounding the sale of alcohol in the US. It used to be the case that a case of beer could not be purchased at a grocery store, with consumers having to go to a beer distributor. Adding to the confusion, it was the case before that sales of ready-to-drink cocktails in a can were heavily restricted, but alcoholic drinks made from fermented sugar, such as hard seltzers, could be acquired from grocery stores.

According to local media outlet Philly Voice, Pennsylvanians would often cross the border into neighbouring Delaware to take advantage of the more relaxed alcohol purchasing laws there, though such practices are technically illegal and could result in the confiscation of all drinks purchased and a fine.

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