Liquor Law Blog

Without any fanfare, the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development (“DCED”) has released two frequently asked questions (FAQ) postings to further explain Governor Wolf’s recent press release and new orders on COVID-19 restaurant restrictions. The FAQs and new orders actually alter some of the items revealed in the press release just last week. » Read More

On Tuesday, September 8, Governor Wolf announced new COVID-19 mandates applicable to the state’s retail restaurants that eased some restrictions but imposed new ones and created many open issues. The good news is that beginning September 21, restaurants (which we assume also means breweries) can increase their indoor capacity to 50%. » Read More

Effective tomorrow, August 4, 2020, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) amended sections 407, 415, and 442 of Act 29 of 2020. These revisions allow Pennsylvania Restaurant (“R”) liquor licensees, Eating Place Malt Beverage (“E”) licensees, and Wine Expanded Permit (“WEP”) holders that possess interior connections to another business they operate, such as a grocery store, convenience store, or similarly situated business that cannot have its entire building or business licensed, to have the consumer use the cash registers at their other business to sell malt or brewed beverages and wine for off-premises consumption. » Read More

On July 16, 2020, Governor Wolf’s new order went into effect further limiting the operating privileges of Pennsylvania’s hospitality businesses. The major changes are: (1) inside occupancy limited to 25% of capacity, (2) no on-premises alcohol sales without a “meal” as part of the transaction, and (3) indoor events are now limited to 25 people maximum including staff. » Read More

On July 15, 2020, Governor Wolf announced new statewide mitigation efforts in response to the recent increase in coronavirus cases in the western part of the state. While these mitigation efforts were described as “surgical and targeted,” these new executive regulations affect all operations of bars and restaurants throughout the Commonwealth, despite, as recent as last week, the Governor announced that he would be leaving it up to the local governments to determine any further restrictions. » Read More

Recently, Governor Wolf and the PLCB issued guidance for hospitality businesses beginning to serve customers inside (green) or outside (green and yellow). We covered that guidance in our last blog post, “Pennsylvania Governor Issues Updated Guidance for Hospitality Businesses Conducting In-Person Service.” » Read More

Last week, Governor Wolf and the PLCB issued guidance for hospitality businesses beginning to serve customers inside (green) or outside (green and yellow). We covered that guidance in our last blog post, “Critical Compliance Tips from Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s Guidance for On-Premise Sales During COVID-19 Crisis.” » Read More

As we outlined in our post last week, Governor Wolf issued guidance for retail food and alcohol businesses in green counties (permitted to have 50% of capacity inside and outside dining) and yellow counties (permitted to have 50% of capacity outside dining beginning on June 5). » Read More

Yellow Phase – Outdoor Dining

Beginning June 5, restaurants and retail foodservice businesses located in counties designated as being in the yellow phase are permitted to add dine-in service in outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, including maximum occupancy limits:

• Indoor areas, including bar areas of restaurants and retail foodservice businesses must be closed to customers except for through-traffic.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Pennsylvania restaurants and hotel licensees that are permitted to sell mixed drinks and cocktails for on-premises consumption have lost a significant amount of business due to the on-premises sales prohibition. While there have been reports of restaurant licensees in Pennsylvania selling mixed drinks and cocktails to-go, that was not previously legal under the Pennsylvania Liquor Code. » Read More