Category: Restaurant / Liquor License

An invitation for bids is now open for the award of 30 expired restaurant licenses; this is the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s fifth license auction since Act 39 became effective in August 2016. The auction format will use the sealed bid process which the LCB… Continue reading →

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (“LCB”) issues, renews and validates retail and wholesale liquor licenses. Every liquor license must be renewed biannually and validated in years that renewal is not required. In order to renew or validate a license, the appropriate renewal or validation fee… Continue reading →

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) was established in conjunction with the 21st Amendment and the repeal of Prohibition. It was created by state law on Nov. 29, 1933, just four days before the end of Prohibition. The agency is governed by a three-member Board… Continue reading →

Notwithstanding Pennsylvania’s general prohibition on smoking in bars, Pennsylvania does permit the operation of “cigar bars”. Under the Clean Indoor Air Act, a proposed cigar bar needs to apply for and obtain a Department of Health exemption to allow smoking on the premises. All permits… Continue reading →

The Liquor Control Board will be releasing 50 “R” licenses for auction. Bids for the licenses are due by noon on Thursday, November 9, 2017. Bids will be opened Thursday, November 16, 2017 and auction winners will be determined soon thereafter. This auction includes 50… Continue reading →

Dry municipalities are those that do not allow the sale of wine, spirits and/or malt and brewed beverages within their borders.  Dry municipalities have existed in Pennsylvania dating back to before Prohibition.  At the end of Prohibition in 1933, state law made alcohol sales a… Continue reading →

Most Pennsylvania liquor licenses are distributed on a county-by-county basis based upon a ratio of one license per 3,000 inhabitants in the county. Once the limit is reached, liquor license acquisition depends on supply and demand. However, in 2002 the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed legislation… Continue reading →

Last summer Governor Wolf signed Act 39 of 2016 which made several changes to the Liquor Code. Among those changes were provisions regarding the Responsible Alcohol Management Program (RAMP) requirements. RAMP training covers how to detect fake IDs, identify signs of intoxication and how to… Continue reading →

In August of 2016, Act 39 of 2016 went into effect changing the Pennsylvania Liquor Code substantially.  The act included dozens of changes which impacted licensees, consumers and the Pennsylvania LCB (“LCB”). One area most affected by the changes to the law involves how Pennsylvanians… Continue reading →

Sale of alcohol is regulated by both the federal government and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (in the latter case via the Liquor Control Board). Before a restaurant, bar, deli, brewery, hotel or similar establishment can legally sell alcohol in Pennsylvania, it must obtain a proper… Continue reading →