Poor Pennsylvanian beer-lovers — not only is there a bizarre, ancient law on the books that prevents convenience stores from selling six-packs, but the state supreme court has gone and upheld it.

The law says places that sell six-packs must let customers drink it at the place of purchase. Most stores understandably aren’t cool with customers swilling Pabst Blue Ribbon in front of the Slim Jim rack, so a Sheetz store took it to court, only to be slapped down by the wrong arm of the law.

Consider the purpose of buying a six-pack. It is to take the beer away from the store for consumption somewhere else. Yet state law allows stores to sell six-packs only if consumers also may consume beer on the premises.

The Sheetz store in question didn’t want to accommodate beer-drinking in the store, prompting the court to rule that state law then prohibited it from selling beer for takeout.

That, of course, is ridiculous. The state Liquor Control Board has managed to expand consumer convenience somewhat. Wegmans supermarkets, for example, sell six-packs for takeout because they have restaurant licenses and allow consumption of beer in that part of the store. The Sheetz case demonstrates that the law itself is obsolete.

Obsolete, but the law nonetheless. And the affected parties even aren’t allowed to drown their sorrows as conveniently as the rest of us.

Outdated beer laws cause for consumer hangover [The Daily Review]
(Photo: pbm.)

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