Why Pennsylvania Women are the best

[packman]

From Gov. Tom Corbett (Pa) on a talk show and why liquor laws need reform


"I think a lot of people want to be able to walk into a grocery store," Corbett said. "Particularly, a lot of the women, want to be able to go in and buy a bottle of wine for dinner, go down buy a six pack or two six packs, buy dinner, and go home. Rather than what I just described, is at least three stops, in Pennsylvania."

That's what my Mom wanted to do - get some wine, a few six packs, buy dinner at the local deli and throw it on the table. Hell, Pennslyvania women know how to treat their families.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/tom-corbett-liquor-laws-women

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. You can't buy wine and beer in the same place in Pennsylvania?

Maybe they do need to update their liquor laws a bit.

[spinbaby]

3. We're pretty backward

Wine comes from a state store and beer comes from a beer distributor, although some grocery stores can now sell you a limited amount of beer in a special segregated section.

[Barack_America]

11. It's ridiculous. Liquor and wine from one store, cases of beer from another...

Six packs and individuals from a third (a deli). Pain in the ass when you're trying to get around on public transportation. Not only that, but the wine stores are government-run and offer a really limited selection. Lots of BYOB restaurants though, which is a huge plus.

[Politicalboi]

2. As much as I hate drinking

When I lived in Pa, I couldn't believe you couldn't buy booze at grocery stores, or corner stores.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

4. Old corbett likes to probe women,

and if they don't like it, they can close their eyes!

[MadrasT]

5. If one term Tommy could fix our supremely fucked up

liquor control system, then it would be the single useful thing he did while in office.

[politicat]

6. Seems like that would encourage binge drinking.

Since it's a pain to get, and knowing how the human reward system works...

1) place hurdle.
2) make it higher.
3) add a trap or two.
4) success! = Indulge because reward earned!

Vs

1) minor hurdle
2) success = not going away, not endangered, nobody will take the marshmallow/bacon/beer away, was not major accomplishment, so have a glass or a bottle and be done.

We can buy weak beer in the grocery; everything else (including decent beer) is liquor store, but not State controlled, and we only got Sunday sales a couple years ago. I grew up in an anything goes state; I like the Colorado system better. Yes, two stops, but 99% of the time, the liquor store is right by the grocery. It makes that single "do I really need this tonight?" thought activate, but not so much that it's a pain in the ass. Plus, jobs and independent businesses. I don't like putting so much into the semi-monopoly of the grocery chains.

[TorchTheWitch]

7. don't like this idea

In PA you can't buy beer and wine/spirits at the same store. And you can only buy these items in specific beer or wine/spirits stores... alcohol isn't sold in regular stores.

It's been like this as long as I've been alive (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). I actually rather like it, but I'm a non-drinker.

One thing that Pennsylvanians generally don't realize about it is that the booze stores are government owned, so no private businesses making the prices out of control or making slaves of their workers.

I don't see it as a big deal to have to go to certain stores to buy your booze. Most people tend to keep stocked up on the alcoholic beverage of choice, so buy in bulk when they go. I doubt most people just go to the store each time they want a six-pack or a bottle of wine since they'd already be stocked up. I'm just not seeing what's so difficult about it. For most things you need to go to different stores anyway... the supermarket for groceries, the hardware store for hardware, the pharmacy for your meds, store X for whatever it is you want that's on a big sale, etc. I just don't see booze being necessary to be sold everywhere. I don't like the idea of it being available in late night markets where people that want to keep drinking can get even more.

The bar business would take a hit for not having it available everywhere at any time as well, and PA is already I believe the lowest paid tip workers.

[femmocrat]

8. I'm also in PA and a non-drinker.

I do not support privatizing the liquor stores. I lived in other states and remember the sleazy-looking liquor stores on the corners. You have never heard of a PA state store being robbed! Plus, I think the clerks are unionized, aren't they?

I also think the wider availability would lead to more DUIs.... as if we didn't have enough already.

If I were a drinker, I would probably feel differently, but we have never had problems getting beer or wine when we needed it for occasions. Like you say, it just takes a little planning.

[TorchTheWitch]

9. I don't think if I was a drinker I'd feel any differently

All my family, neighbors and friends drink. One of my brother's is interested in wines and gets a lot of bottles per store visit so he always has the right wine on hand. Since he knows it's going to be a shopping trip he also likes to spend time browsing for something new. I don't know a soul other than heavy drinkers or problem drinkers that I ever noticed having an issue with not being able to run out in the middle on the night for more booze they really shouldn't be drinking more of anyway.

You can still buy a maximum of two six-packs at most bars, but it's expensive, and you won't get it if they think you're intoxicated. They're much harder on people stopping in to buy six packs than drinkers at the bar since they KNOW they're going to be driving and leaving immediately. At least when you have drunk folks drinking in the bar you can call them a cab, cut them off and make sure they hang out till they sober up, feed them, and call the police if they insist on leaving right away and driving. And these days people have gotten a whole lot better about having a designated driver when out drinking in the bars.

I agree, I think it just makes binge drinking a lot easier and too many drunks on the road.

I don't remember if the workers in the state stores are unionized or not. Even if not they still get decent pay, vacation and sick time and good benefits. A privately owned place would pay them minimum wage with no benny's and work them like dogs.

I do remember that for awhile you had to get a special license to buy booze. I can't remember what it was called, but no other ID was good. That law was stupid, and I'm glad they got rid of that one. It didn't last long at all, and I think by the time was was old enough to drink they'd done away with it. Went over like a lead balloon.

[blue neen]

10. Good ol' Neanderthal Tom...

because the only worry women have is getting dinner on the table. And apparently, men don't ever fix dinner here in Pennsylvania.

He's such a jerk. It's unbelievable.