A Bill Could Put Beer on Tap for Sunday Sales in Pennsylvania

Jun. 30–If a measure allowing beer distributors to stay open on Sunday eventually becomes law, Jack Shearer figures it could be a windfall for his business, if not necessarily his household.

His beer distributorship, DJ’s Westgate Beverage in West Manchester Township, could continue selling cases of beer and kegs on Sunday, instead of shutting down for the weekend at their customary time of 11 p.m. Saturday — an hour before the current state-mandated closing time.

He figures they could move a lot of suds on Sunday, especially during football season.

Then again, his wife, Diane, operates the nearby Westgate Restaurant and Lounge. And even if his beer distributorship is making more money, he figures his wife’s place would lose money on takeout six-packs that Sunday beer drinkers are now buying out of necessity at taverns and restaurants with liquor licenses.

“For us, it would be a wash,” Shearer said.

Whether his household ultimately profits or not, Shearer said, he still hopes the measure eventually makes it into law. At the very least, it would even things out between beer distributorships and state liquor stores, which sell wine and spirits. A law passed last year expanded the number of state stores with Sunday hours from 10 to 25 percent.

“It would help the industry,” Shearer said.

The bill would allow beer distributors to operate on Sunday between noon and 5 p.m., in exchange for a $100 annual fee. It passed in the state House of Representatives Tuesday. In order to become law, it must pass the Senate, then get signed by the governor.

State Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-Hellam Township, was the only state representative from York County to vote against it.

“The flavor in my district is they respect the holiness of Sunday and don’t want to see expansion,” Gillespie said.

But state Rep. Bev Mackereth, R-Spring Grove, said she didn’t see that it was a big deal in light of the fact that residents can already buy beer from taverns on Sunday.

“All we really did was kind of level the playing field for distributors,” Mackereth said.

Dave Schultz, owner of Tailgaters Grille and Drafthouse in York, serves as first vice president of the York County Restaurant and Tavern Association and serves on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Tavern Association.

He said some of the smaller taverns might take a substantial hit with the loss of Sunday takeout sales. And while he doubts it would have a major impact on his place, it would have an impact nonetheless.

“Every little bit hurts,” he said.

But lawmakers — perhaps recalling industry opposition to a similar measure last year and its subsequent defeat — added a couple of elements to make the measure more palatable for tavern owners, Schultz said.

First, it would give them a greater discount on liquor purchased from the state, from 7 to 10 percent. And it would eliminate a provision allowing taverns to stay open Sundays only if food sales account for 30 percent or more of their business.

Rosario Colletti, owner of Brewers Outlet on East Philadelphia Street in York, said he would eagerly welcome the opportunity to stay open on Sundays. His customers often complain about the fact that he doesn’t.

Alex Pabon of Dover, who works in York, stopped by Colletti’s place Wednesday afternoon to pick up a case of Miller Lite. He said he can’t figure out the rationale behind keeping distributors closed on Sunday, especially in light of the fact that some state liquor stores are open.

“The government can get their tax, but these guys can’t?” he said.

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