What has the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage & Tavern Association Done For You and Your Business?
The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association is a statewide association based in Harrisburg, representing small business taverns and licensed restaurants in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Association formed in 1941, reorganized in 2019, and today advocates for best practices and rights within the industry as well as best experiences for patrons. Our accomplishments over the years speak for themselves.
- Act 57 of 2024 that added 10 additional hours of happy hours; allowed for up to 2 discounted meal/adult beverage combo meals; changed self-sponsored event rules to allow 2 drinks to be included in the cost of a ticket; kept pandemic-era outdoor seating rules; provided a special discount for licensees picking up liquor from the PLCB; increased dollar limits on branded items distributors/manufacturers can give a licensee; and allows distributors to rent equipment to other licensees including vehicles for pick-up of malt products.
- Act 86 of 2024 increased sales of ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDC) by allowing this product to be sold to go. PaTaverns protected the 10% discount on these products that in the original bill would have been eliminated.
- Act 51 of 2023 eliminates the sunset date of Act 81 of 2021 providing opportunities for those with off-premise catering permits to work unlimited off-premise catering locations and hours.
- Act 38 of 2023 fixes issues with Rauwolf licenses.
- Act 49 of 2023 opens a window for certain H licenses to convert to an R license for a fee.
- Act 67 of 2022 balances the playing field for all liquor licensees to have up to 75 decibels of sound on their property lines.
- Act 81 of 2021 that allows closed establishments to sell unopened bottles of liquor and wine to other licensees; allows licensed extensions until 12/31/24; adds an additional year of safekeeping; and changes off-premise catering rules until 12/31/24. Effective November 2021.
- Convinced PLCB and IRRC to eliminate the $50 minimum purchase requirement in order for a licensee to receive a discount when purchasing liquor for their establishment. Effective October 2021.
- Change to tap cleaning regulations. Previously taverns and clubs were required to clean tap lines every 7 days, while certain newer license types had no requirements. Effective August 2021, all license types must clean tap lines every 14 days.
- Act 1 of 2021, which, in part, provided $145 million to small business taverns and restaurants in the form of grants to assist the industry with financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
- 2021 Licensing Fees waived as part of COVID-19 financial recovery efforts
- Act 21 of 2020. Allows for mixed spirits drinks to go during the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration and Mitigation process
- Delivery of alcohol off-premise
- Passage of Tavern Games
- Alcohol and food sales off-premise 50 times a year
- Improvement of noise penalties and distance to be heard
- Entertainment during extended food hours
- Records on premise significantly lessened
- I.P. process updated
- The first PLCB-Approved online RAMP Server/Seller course
- Started process of PLCB being more accountable for ending and reversing conditional license agreements
- Stopped Across the Bar Tax increase in Philadelphia: Effectively shutting down efforts from 3rd class cities from implementing tax (total 63)
- Stopped removal of De Novo Rights
- Stopped Wine-Only license for $1000
- Accomplished accountability of Small Games of Chance in private clubs in Act 2
- Stopped PLCB flexible pricing
- Stopped Safe Ride Home Program
- Stopped original Governor’s proposal for thousands of new licenses
- Catering Off-Premise with Alcohol
- Increased State Store discount for licensees to 10%
- Increased ounces of sale for off-premise consumption
- Licensees do not have to pay mercantile tax on alcohol
- Wine dispensing systems for retail licensees
- Regulations permitting tournaments and contests on licensed premises
- Special Occasion Permits restricted to licensee hours
- Sales of promotional items by licensees
- Fought to give municipalities and townships the final vote on any license transfers
- Fought for the Pizza Hut exemption
- Ended Special Occupancy Tax
