HARRISBURG — A pending court case involving beer sales at a convenience store in Altoona is leading lawmakers to consider whether legislation is warranted.

Sen. John Rafferty, R-Chester, said after a hearing Tuesday that the Legislature may want to clarify, for example, the rules about the physical barriers that are required to separate grocery areas from restaurants with beer-sales licenses.

"It does have to be a wall," said Rafferty, chairman of the Law and Justice Committee. "It can't be a wall with crackers."

Takeout beer sales at the Sheetz store in Altoona continue as the Liquor Control Board appeals a Commonwealth Court decision that said the type of license Sheetz holds requires some alcohol to be consumed on the premises. Sheetz does not allow beer-buyers to drink in the restaurant section of the store.

Beer also is being sold at a Weis Markets-owned Mr. Z's store in Tannersville, and Wegmans Food Markets wants to sell beer at some of its Pennsylvania stores.

"There is no reason to treat restaurants located in supermarkets any differently from restaurants located in malls, shopping plazas or elsewhere," said Craig Hoffman, who runs operations for Wegmans' 11 Pennsylvania stores.

But others said they were worried that selling more beer at convenience stores or supermarkets might harm existing beer purveyors, could increase drunken-driving rates and may lead to more underage drinking.