State's beer rules change
The days of beer distributors only selling kegs and cases are no more.
Beer distributors around the state are now allowed to sell beer in any quantity, including six-packs, individual cans and bottles and growlers.
Legislation loosening regulations on the industry was signed by Gov. Tom Wolf in November and went into effect today.
Owners of several beer distributors in the area said Monday that they were getting ready to stock six-packs and other new items, though the change could pose some challenges at first.
JR’s Beer Warehouse in Rochester, Beaver County, planned to start selling six-packs at 9 a.m. today.
“We’ve been getting ready for the last four days, breaking every single case up and putting the six-pack pricing in,” said Matt Stepanian, whose family owns the store.
They plan to sell six-packs of every type of beer that is offered in cases and 12-packs and they will also sell 25-ounce cans. In the next week, they expect to have a new cooler box arriving that will be set up with beer taps to fill growlers. They are also looking into stocking mead.
Since distributors have never sold individual six-packs before, it will take some time to figure out what will sell, what won’t, and how things should be priced, Stepanian said.
“There might be some headaches involved, but I think it’s going to be a good, fun change,” he said.
Save on Beer in Marshall Township, Allegheny County, less than a mile from Cranberry Township, is taking a slightly different approach.
Assistant manager Gregg Harrold said that the store plans to have a “make your own six pack” station.
Instead of selling six-packs of more common types of beer, it will offer a selection of craft beer bottles, so customers can mix and match and sample different varieties.
The store’s management hopes that the ability to sample beers will lead to people discovering new types that they enjoy and sales of cases will also increase, Harrold said.
“It will give people a chance to try something they have looked at, but didn’t want to commit to buying 24,” he said.
Harrold said that 12-packs, which distributors were allowed to sell starting in 2014, are a big seller at the store.
Sue O’Donnell, owner of Bill’s Beer Barn on New Castle Road in Butler Township, said the business is planning to start selling six-packs in the near future.
It first needs to update its computers and figure out where to stock the six-packs.
“It’s going to be a lot more work, but in the end, hopefully, it will be a positive thing,” she said.
All three stores reported that customers, before and after the passage of the new law, would frequently come in looking for six-packs.
“Customers are definitely looking for it,” O’Donnell said.
The new law also permits bars to start selling alcohol at 9 a.m. on Sundays, instead of 11 a.m., and without the requirement that they also serve food.
