Diamond Votes ‘Yes’ to Privatize State Liquor Stores
HARRISBURG -- Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) voted “yes” on
House Bill 466, legislation that today passed the House and that would, if enacted, privatize the sale of wine and spirits in Pennsylvania.
“Government shouldn’t be in the business of selling alcohol – plain and simple,” said Diamond. “The sales of goods and services rightly belong in the private sector. I voted today to unleash the power of the free market to give consumers a wider selection of products at more competitive prices.”
State government currently holds a monopoly on the sale of wine and spirits at both the retail and wholesale levels. The system dates back to the Prohibition era, making Pennsylvania one of only two states with full control of liquor sales.
The proposal opens up the possibility that “one-stop” shopping could finally be available to Pennsylvania consumers. The bill would give beer distributors the opportunity to obtain a license sell to wine and spirits under a single roof, and would provide other current license holders options for expanding the array of packages they may sell.
“Consumers have repeatedly said they want the same selection, convenience and customer service they find in other states, and this bill would accomplish that,” said Diamond. “The sale of liquor has been another area where government needlessly intruded into the marketplace, and today we took steps to get it out.”
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RepDiamond.com or
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Representative Russ Diamond
102nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ryan Travis, 717.260.6335
rtravis@pahousegop.com
RepDiamond.com / Facebook.com/RepDiamond