How to get beer in Pennsylvania

From teetotaling Puritans to Prohibition-era bootleggers, the United States has had a storied history with alcoholic beverages.

Pennsylvania is far from being the only state with peculiar liquor laws. However, its state-run wine and liquor stores and regulated beer sales have caused some odd circumstances for retailers and and customers alike.

Whether you like to sip on beer, wine or spirits, here are some things you'll probably only do when drinking in Pennsylvania.

1. Walk into a grocery store through a separate entrance for beer sales

In many states, you can enter a grocery store and find beer in an aisle just like any other product. In Pennsylvania, however, supermarkets are prohibited from selling beer, wine and spirits.

Some grocery stores have found a clever way to sell beer anyway.  By putting restaurants within the supermarkets, grocers were able to acquire beer sale licenses and sell beer the same way any bar or restaurant would.

"Technically when you buy beer in a grocery store, you're really buying it in a restaurant," said Jason High, chief of staff for state Senator Scott Wagner, R-Spring Garden Township, who is leading a push to revamp the state's liquor code.

Giant Food Stores has opened 18 "Beer Garden and Eatery" locations within its Pennsylvania grocery stores, including one in York County, and Weis Markets has opened 41 beer cafe sites, including six in York County.

The stores, which sell beer by the six-pack or individually, are required to have separate cash registers and entrances, said Dennis Curtain, Weis Markets spokesman.

2. Plan ahead to buy liquor and wine

Wine and liquor laws vary from state to state. In many states, it's common to see wine or hard liquor for sale in supermarkets or convenience stores.

In Pennsylvania, however, shoppers had better plan ahead if they want to break out the bubbly for New Year's Eve — or any other holiday. Their main option for liquor and wine is "the state store," a colloquial term for one of Pennsylvania's 603 Fine Wine & Good Spirits retailers.

The state-run wine and liquor stores are closed on many major holidays, including Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day, said Elizabeth Brassell, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board spokeswoman. In addition, the stores often set limited hours around other holidays, she said.

The board has been pushing to increase the appeal of the stores, Brassell said.

"Instead of the stark white linoleum and harsh fluorescent lighting, we’re moving toward a more comfortable, inviting environment, where customers want to spend more time," she said.

Still, the state liquor stores remain a divisive topic among legislators. Some see the business, which did $1.86 billion in after-tax sales during fiscal year 2014 to 2015, as a reliable source of revenue for the state. Others, such as Wagner, want to dismantle the state system and privatize sales.

3. Make several trips from the bar to your vehicle

It doesn't matter how buff you are. You aren't allowed to walk out of a bar carrying more than two six-packs of beer.

In Pennsylvania, establishments with beer licenses may sell carry-out beer, but those purchases are limited to 192 fluid ounces, Brassell said. That's as much as two six-packs of 16-ounce beer cans.

That limit has been set since 1987, and is actually an increase from a previous law from 1949 that allowed only 144 ounces of beer, or two six-packs of 12-ounce beers bottles or cans, she said.

Fortunately for those who want to chalk up more miles on their Fitbits, there's an easy way around this regulation. Walk outside, put the beer in your car, come back inside and buy two more six packs.

"It is a per-transaction limitation," Brassell said. "There are no restrictions to making multiple trips or transactions to purchase carry-out beer."

3. Go to a 'beer distributor' 

Beer sales aren't only separated from wine and liquor sales. In Pennsylvania, beer sales are also regulated by quantity. To purchase a case of beer, your only option is to go to the "beer distributor."

Unlike liquor and wine stores, beer distributors are privately owned. Distributors have a different license, which allows them to sell kegs and cases, Brassell said.  A case of beer usually contains 24 cans or bottles, though some may have more or less.

Distributors are not allowed to sell six-packs, so anyone who shops there had better be sure they like whatever brand they buy.

However, distributor regulations changed a bit last year. A legal advisement determined that distributors were permitted to sell 12-packs of beer as long as they were in their original packaging, Brassell said.

And now, Gov. Tom Wolf wants gas stations to be able to sell beer.

5. 'Bootleg' alcohol into Pennsylvania from Maryland

With York County so close to the Maryland line, it may be tempting to cross the Mason-Dixon to purchase your hard drinks.

That, however, would make you a criminal.

"State laws (liquor and tax laws) have prohibited the possession of wine, liquor and beer purchased out of state since Prohibition," Brassell said by email.

A bottle of wine, though, is unlikely to result in any criminal proceedings. State police don't "actively enforce" the law, said James Lynam, Harrisburg district office commander of Harrisburg State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.

However, if the illegal transport of alcohol was brought to police attention, they would investigate it, he said.

“You put a little common sense into it," Lynam said. "If we discover that  a licensee in the commonwealth is saving money by getting liquor outside of the commonwealth, that’s a whole different story than if someone was vacationing, bought a case of beer, and brought some of that back.”