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Will voters decide the future of liquor sales in Pa.?

Constitutional amendment proposed

  • Scott LaMar/WITF
In this Thursday, July 22, 2010 photo, Hugh and Karen Hoffman of Wycombe, Pa. shop at a state wine and liquor store in New Hope, Pa.

 Matt Rourke / AP

In this Thursday, July 22, 2010 photo, Hugh and Karen Hoffman of Wycombe, Pa. shop at a state wine and liquor store in New Hope, Pa.

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Airdate: Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Pennsylvania is one of two states that still have complete control over the sale of alcoholic beverages and it’s been that way since the end of prohibition in 1933.

There have been several attempts over the last four decades to change that – to privatize the sale of liquor – all by Republican governors. All have failed to one degree or another. In recent years, some limits have been liberalized such as beer and wine are now sold in many grocery and convenience stores, but the state still sells liquor in renamed Wine and Spirit Shops and makes a lot of money off it too. There were $2.91 billion in sales in fiscal year 2021 and almost $765 million went to the state’s general fund.

A proposal was made last month in legislature that takes a different approach – changing Pennsylvania’s Constitution and letting voters decide the sale of liquor’s future.

Republican State Representative Natalie Mihalek of Allegheny and Washington Counties is the resolution’s sponsor and she joins us on Wednesday’s Smart Talk.

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