The following is a statement from Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association. The statement concerns HB 1160, a bill related to off-premise catering permits.

(Harrisburg, June 20, 2023) Today, the Pennsylvania House passed HB 1160 by a 202-1 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate.

This bill, sponsored by Rep. Napoleon Nelson, helps many family-owned taverns, bars, and licensed restaurants increase revenue opportunities as they work to recover from years of bad news.

In part, HB 1160 allows liquor licensees with off-premise catering permits to hold an unlimited number of off-premise catering events beyond 2024. Currently, Act 87 of 2021 sunsets at the end of 2024. If allowed to sunset, the state would revert back to outdated liquor code that limits the number of off-premise catering events. Rep. Nelson’s bill removes the sunset date among other things.

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association fully supports this bill as it passed the House today.

For several years now, it’s been a financially difficult time for family-owned taverns, bars, and licensed restaurants. First, the industry lost the exclusive right to sell six-packs to go, resulting in significant loss of revenue. This was followed by pandemic restrictions that closed indoor dining. Then recovery efforts were hampered by supply chain issues, inflation, and a lack of workers.

Passing HB 1160 to help these businesses was the right thing to do. We hope the State Senate agrees and will move the bill in a timely manner.

The PLBTA thanks Rep. Nelson for his work on this bill, and the efforts of all House Members who provided support.

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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 Twitter via @TavernPA.

Earlier this year, the PLBTA produced a Tavern Talk news video about this issue and Rep. Nelson’s interest to help. You can watch that video by clicking here.

Training & Marketing Can Help Optimize Margins, Increase Traffic

Business really is about making a profit through a quality product. There’s no dispute about that. Every tavern owner wants to make as much as possible to pay bills more easily, keep staff employed, and, of course, put some money away for their future.

The challenge most have is maximizing profits … especially now in light of our state’s COVID-19 crisis and various orders from the state government. So, what should a tavern owner do?

Some ways may include waitstaff training. Consider the following ideas for starters …

1. Push the most profitable selections on the menu. How many times have you ever seen a customer ask for menu advice. A good waitress will say everything is good on a menu. A great waitress will point out items which are the most profitable to the establishment.
2. Train your staff to work a table from start to finish. For establishments serving food, that means begin by asking patrons if they’d like to order a pre-dinner drink before their meal is ready. Then, after the meal has been consumed, your staff should ask guests if they’d like an after-dinner drink. Waitstaff should avoid leaving the bill during the meal. It makes it too easy for the customer to avoid ordering that dessert or after-dinner drink.
3. Don’t overpour and work to reduce waste. That’s an easy way to give away profits. Staff should stick to proper measurements, and only use what is needed.
4. Have your waitstaff and management nip customer complaints early. Complaints that go unheard or ignored will likely be heard loudly by the customer’s friends and social media followers. That bad word-of-mouth marketing will hurt your business.

Of course, an investment in marketing may also help. How about these ideas?

1. Pay attention to social media. A bad review on Yelp or Foursquare could be doing damage. Respond to a bad review to acknowledge you heard the complaint, and that you corrected the problem.
2. Tap the power of Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat. All are powerful ways to get your good news out. Keep in touch with your patrons through social media.
3. Positive word-of-mouth marketing should be a goal. Invite your patrons to share photos of themselves enjoying your establishment through your social media channels as well as their personal social media accounts.
4. Know the “money walk” … that is, where in your establishment are the likely paths patrons will take when walking? Take advantage of those paths by placing key sales messages along the path. For example, one path may be from the parking lot into a waiting area. Another path may be to the bathrooms.

And finally, don’t forget about simple business smarts.

1. During non-peak hours, can your establishment host local business or club meetings?
2. Shop around for the best prices. With the World Wide Web, you’re not locked into doing business as its been done for decades. You can explore the world to get great deals on barware and supplies. Make sure you are getting at least three bids for liquor liability and business insurance.
3. Save money by keeping an eye on utilities. A leaky faucet or toilet that doesn’t stop running is costing you money. Have you shopped around for the best electricity rates?
4. Other than drinks, are there things your staff can sell to customers while they wait for their meal to be served? Small games of chance? Juke box? Video games? Pub gear?

This article was republished from the October 2020 edition of Pennsylvania Beverage Media, the official monthly magazine of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association. 

Chuck Moran, Executive Director

The following is a statement from Chuck Moran, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, concerning today’s action in the Pennsylvania Senate regarding HB 2513.

Today, the Pennsylvania Senate voted to help small business taverns and licensed restaurants by passing HB 2513 by a bi-partisan vote of 43-6. The bill now goes back to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for concurrence.

Recent amendments to HB 2513 return the industry to standards that were in place before the July 15 mitigation rule changes that have done significant damage to our small business Members across the Commonwealth. The bill allows taverns and restaurants to operate at a minimum of 50 percent capacity with continued social distancing and barriers in use; eliminates the requirement that alcohol sales for on-site consumption may only occur if a meal is also purchased; and also permits customers to sit at the bar with appropriate social distancing and/or barriers.

The industry has played and continues to play its role in the COVID-19 battle. It has been the tip of the spear since day one of the battle, and has sacrificed the most of any industry. Industry casualties are mounting as more establishments close their doors and employees lose their jobs. The industry and its employees desperately need this type of help.

HB 2513 is a safe step in the right direction. It takes into consideration a balance of COVID safety measures and business survival needs.

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association thanks the Pennsylvania Senate for its action today.

We look forward to working with the general assembly on future legislation to continue efforts in rescuing the industry and returning it to normal operations.

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About the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association

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.

Members of the media can call (717) 232-8671 to request an interview on this topic.