A state senator is hoping to nudge Pennsylvania into the 21st Century.
Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) is seeking sponsors for a bill that would allow online grocery businesses and delivery platforms to make it legal for consumers to have wine, beer and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages sent to their homes via online orders.
“A growing number of Pennsylvanians are choosing to shop for groceries online, a trend driven by convenience, ease of ordering, and home delivery,” Pennycuick said. “Nationwide, the online grocery and delivery market has exceeded $60 billion in annual sales. The legislation I am introducing will allow online grocery businesses and delivery platforms to provide local delivery of wine and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages directly to consumers.
“However, unlike in many other states, Pennsylvania law currently prohibits the delivery of wine and RTDs through these platforms, despite increasing consumer demand. My bill will aim to modernize our system.
“It would also grant these rights to beer distributors and enhance the state’s online retail ordering process by offering another mechanism for local delivery from state stores. In addition, it includes safeguards to prevent underage access, including ID verification and delivery protocols, that will be built into the system to ensure responsible implementation,” Pennycuick said.
Asked to comment via social media, people supported the idea.
The “state store is a rip-off,” Holly Kim Herman responded on Facebook.
“It makes sense,” said Monique Hofkin. “It’s convenient. We still live by too many Puritan laws. It’s absurd.”
Jay D. Gelman said, “This is what happens in normal places all across the U.S.A.”
“It makes sense,” said Deborah Anne Clark. “And isn’t it more environmentally conscious as opposed to delivering it to a wine and spirits store and then someone has to make a separate trip to pick it up?”
However, not everyone thinks this is a good idea.
Wendell Young, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, which represents state store employees, believes there are major drawbacks, including a reduction in revenue for the state budget.
As of fiscal year 2023-24, the most recent year available, that totaled $868.3 million.
But other than the money, Young argued the change would not be good for Pennsylvanians.
“This would not be good for our members,” said Young. “It would not be good for all Pennsylvanians.”
There would be fewer products going through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and their members would be bypassed, leading to fewer jobs, he said.
And there would be less foot traffic in the stores, which would also reduce revenue, he argues. When people come into a store for one thing, they often see other products and purchase those, as well.
All in all, it would “lead to less revenue for the taxpayers,” said Young.
However, grocery stores participating in this might also see their profits drop as Amazon takes over, affecting not only their wine and beer sales but also their grocery sales.
“Amazon will undercut everybody,” Young said.
And even though Pennycuick said there would be safeguards to prevent underage people from buying alcohol, Young, who recalled his youthful behavior, believes that teenagers would be able to circumvent them.
With no vigilant clerks there to ‘card’ people, “It will be a lot harder to enforce for a private door-to-door transaction,” said Young.