Why Pennsylvania’s Decision to Close Liquor Stores Could Do More Harm Than Good

robbreport.com ^ | 3/26/20 | Richard Carleton Hacker

[a little elbow grease]

If the nation’s liquor stores bolt their doors, can bootleg liquor be far behind?

My favorite time of day is cocktail hour. While I love any number of bars and restaurants, my favorite place to enjoy a cocktail is my home. Thanks to my professional requirements, I have an abundant supply of some of the best whiskies and wines in the world. In addition, the service is impeccable (there’s no trying to get the bartender’s attention—I am the bartender), the pours are always perfect, there’s no last call and I don’t have to worry about driving home.

And now, like it or not, much of the rest of the country is also enjoying the perks cocktails at home, thanks to state-issued “shelter in place” mandates to slow the spread of Covid-19. And when your home is the bar, it might occasionally need restocking, but there are concerns we may not be able to continue to do that.

When Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf ordered the closing of all “non-life sustaining” businesses beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 (revised from the original March 19 date due to a massive influx of waiver requests), included in that were liquor stores, all of which are state-owned. So yes, he can do that.

So far Pennsylvania is the only state to saddle its citizens with the burden of a spirit-less defense against cabin fever, but it sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country, as many states are still defining what an essential business is. Many other states have yet to weigh in with rulings, which makes me fear that Pennsylvania has started a no-drink contagion that other governors may catch. In addition to adding to the fast-blooming unemployment problem, closing stores could have other consequences.

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[nascarnation]

Back in the 60s I worked at a manufacturing plant near Cleveland, Ohio. At shift change, you would see guys selling cartons of low tax Kentucky cigarettes out of their trunk. And Kentucky was 250 miles away.

[a little elbow grease]

Moonshine time boys!!! Get your lawlessness all warmed up and don’t forget to hone those looting skills.

_________________

"So far Pennsylvania is the only state to saddle its citizens with the burden of a spirit-less defense against cabin fever"

I think this is a great sentence by the writer.

Now .... to sharpen up my "looting skills".

;-)

[Vigilanteman]

I am deriving great satisfaction from watching this smarmy weasel politically self-immolate.

That thing a/k/a Dr. Rachael Levin always standing alongside him is sure helping the situation.

[glorgau]

> I have everything here for a martini except for the gin! and brother that first one is going to go down smooth & dry :)

A martini at home when you’re all alone is called a “Quarantini”

[jdsteel]

It’s not as dire a problem these days. Quite a few gas stations (Sheetz) and grocery stores sell wine & beer. Restaurants have adjusted as well. One local place advertises delivery food can come with up to 2 six packs or two growlers.

The website (https://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com) should be usable again in a day or two after the initial surge that crashed the site.

[JonPreston]

[Born to Conserve]

The lasting effect of this quarantine will be the shut down of PA “State Stores”.

It’ll be on the ballot, one way or another.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Those of us who pay attention politically were outraged when Wolf appointed the tranny health secretary.

Millions of marginally engaged Pennsylvanians likely had no clue. And having he/she/it shoved in their face every day is not sitting well with them I’m sure.

[luv2ski]

The mayor of Denver announced about a week ago he was closing liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries. In a statement 3 hours later, he retracted the decision. The lobbyists clearly got to him but there were some very good reasons for reversing this: alcoholics that can’t get booze could end up in hospitals further stressing the healthcare system, people will make their own moonshine (and thus die and/or end up in the hospital), the black market will flourish.

[Alberta's Child]

The best part about all this is that PA is one of those odd states where liquor stores are run by the state government.

I can honestly see a huge opportunity for Trump to mount a winning campaign in 2020 -- by hammering the inept @ssholes (Democrats and Republicans alike) who have destroyed their own states.

[Leep]

[The Great RJ]

I work in a wine and spirits store and just before Minnesota Governor Walz was to announce what businesses were to be closed we experienced a huge rush in sales with customers stocking up in anticipation of no liquor sales. Even after the Governor’s closure order deemed liquor stores an essential service, sales have continued to be some 20% up from what we would normally see. While beer sales are brisk, boxed wines are in huge demand by now stay at home moms.

One fall out of this virus pandemic might be the demise of government liquor monopolies. The public might realize that these Prohibition era holdovers are not so much as to generate revenue for the unit of government as for the government to control alcohol consumption.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I’d love to think you are right, but frankly my state is just too damned addicted to the revenue.

[gibsonguy]

You can’t go out and buy bottle of scotch but if you want to go kill your baby no problem.

[Old Man From WV]

I absolutely agree and can’t wrap my head around that sort of thinking. It reminds me of Walmart going from a 24/7 operation to having 7-8:30 hours. By having fewer hours that you are opened, wouldn’t that create the likelihood of larger groups shopping at the same time?

[Buckeye McFrog]

In the case of Walmart it makes some sense because they need time to restock (and in this instance particularly to sanitize) their shelves.

They’ve been trending in this direction, away from 24 hours, for some time.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Yes, our Idiot Governor closed the Liquor Stores.....

But the Beer Distributors are still open!

Which once again explains why Capitalists are still better business managers than government.

[Vigilanteman]

Oh, hell yes! The most dangerous place in the Commonwealth (at least SW PA) at this time is Wal-Mart at opening time. I went to the senior hour (6 - 7 a.m.) at Giant Eagle on Tuesday just to pick up the week's groceries. That was bad enough, but drove by Wally World on my way home just to see and their lot was like the Saturday before Christmas.

The last day the city run gym was open (March 16th), attendance was sparse and it was the same old, same old early morning older folks keeping a respectable distance and cleaning up after themselves.

The very next day, the same administration which thought it so important to close down the gyms, went ahead with three special elections because they thought there was a chance of flipping three GOP seats up for special election. They didn't flip even one.

[a little elbow grease]

"Without a doubt one of the dumbest things I have ever seen a politician do.

Wolf announced they would be closing in 2 days, which set off an absolute STAMPEDE of booze hoarders. Likely far more virus was spread in those 2 days than if they had just remained open with normal traffic levels.

If you are going to ask people to sit at home and stare at the walls it would help some of them to be a bit sedated."

____________________

Well said, Buckeye McFrog. I am now beginning my sedation ..... having set in a stock months ago.

[a little elbow grease]

One of the reasons Khrushchev was sacked was because there was actually a shortage of vodka in the Soviet Union.

_____________________

My wife's looking for her Grey Goose right now. Listening to Governor Cuomo almost led her into a coma.