Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed into law a bill allowing certain spirit-based RTD’s to be sold from beer and wine retail outlets that previously have not been able to sell spirits beverage.
The signing of Senate Bill 688 by the governor breaks the longstanding barrier between what most states consider a beer and wine retail license and a spirit’s license. Pennsylvania is a control state which requires all spirits to be sold through the exclusive Pennsylvania State Store system. RTDs will now be available through beer and wine licenses and beer distributors will now be able to sell RTDs.
The spirit’s industry has been attempting to pass similar legislation in other states in the last few years, with mixed results. This bill will add more than 10,000 new retail outlets that will now be able to sell spirits RTDs.
The bill also satisfied on-premise retailers by increasing the number of happy hours per week from 14 to 24 and the temporary outdoor permits created during the COVID-19 pandemic are permanently extended.