The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association has partnered with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Committee and the State House  Liquor Control Committee on a public educational campaign to raise awareness of drink spiking.

The campaign was introduced during a news conference at the capital and includes educational awareness projects such as posters and social media tools.

Invited to speak at the news conference was Tom Tyler, president of the PLBTA and owner of McStew’s Irish Sports Pub in Levettown. Joining Tom on stage was Jim DeLisio, vice president of the PLBTA and owner of the Racehorse Tavern in Thomasville. Others speaking included Darrell Clarke, chair of the PLCB, and Rep. Dan Deasy, chair of the House Liquor Control Committee.

Here’s what Tom had to say on behalf of PaTaverns …

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association and our Members, I want to thank Chairman Deasy of the House Liquor Control Committee and Chairman Clarke of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for initiating this educational campaign. We are proud to partner with them.

As a bar owner, when a patron walks into my establishment, my priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable place for them to spend their time. At McStew’s Irish Sports Pub, that means having a fully RAMP-trained staff and following best practices to ensure safety.

But bartenders and servers can only do so much. I’ve often seen patrons step away from their drinks or not pay close attention to them, which unfortunately makes them vulnerable to drink spiking. That’s why this campaign matters—not only for our industry, but for the public at large. It’s about education, awareness, and prevention.

We think this is important not just for us as business owners, but also in the broader sense of what it teaches the community. It helps everyone understand how to look out for themselves and each other, whether at a bar or house party. And above all, we want people to return home safely.

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association fully supports this campaign, and will do everything we can through our Members to educate the public.

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The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association is the statewide political voice for small business taverns and licensed restaurants. Based in Harrisburg, the Association formed after Prohibition in 1941, reorganized in 2019, and today advocates for best practices and rights within the industry as well as best experiences for patrons. To learn more, visit www.pataverns.com or follow the Association on X via @TavernPA.