USA: Pennsylvania’s new law allows beer distributors to open on Sundays

The Pennsylvania’ distributors of beer are permitted to open on Sundays, so that drinkers can go to their local distributor. The new law does not require distributors to be open on Sunday; however, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, 21 of the 41 in Luzerne County will be open for business, Citizenvoice announced on August 29.

Dave Shipula, Beer Super owner and president of the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania, thinks the move is long overdue. After the state allowed some of its liquor stores to open on Sunday, he felt it was only a matter of time before the distributors got their chance.

The distributors were the last institution regulated by the PLCB not permitted to operate on Sundays, Shipula said. He felt the restriction was putting the distributors at an unfair disadvantage.

Shipula and the state Malt Beverage Distributors Association had been fighting for the right to operate on Sundays for years, but did not get anywhere until recently.

"I think the turning point seemed to be when the liquor stores started a pilot program to be open on Sundays," he said.

Distributors are taking advantage. Employees anticipate they will be busy, especially on the eve of football season.

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