Pennsylvania - Illegal for You - Legal for Me

[DaveB]

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania remains one of the few states that do not allow the private sale of wine, either at the wholesale or retail level. That is, unless the wine is produced by a Pennsylvania winery.

No explanation is given for this contradiction. The state wine monopoly for out-of-state wine sales is maintained as a revenue source. Obviously, pious health-and-safety pronouncements fall flat if we can step next door to a winery outlet store and purchase the same amount of alcohol.

There does not now appear to be any political will in the state legislature to end the state monopoly. Properly exposed, I believe the state's practice could be eliminated.

Does anyone out there know of any lobbying organizations dedicated to this cause?

[Jerry D Mead]

Dave...There have been constant and ongoing efforts to turn your state monopoly into a free enterprise operation, but the bureaucracy and the union of state employees has beat it back every time.

There are a lot of angry consumers in PA...hopefully some of them will see your message and contact you by e-mail.

JDM