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By in Latest News Comments Off on Fire Safety Tips

Fire Safety Tips

By Michelle Crowe, Head of Safety Education
Illinois Casualty Company

By following these tips and being proactive in fire prevention, restaurant owners and kitchen staff can significantly reduce the risk of kitchen fires. Remember, prevention is always better than dealing with the aftermath of a devastating fire.

Stay vigilant, stay prepared, and keep your restaurant kitchen safe.

EDUCATION
Educate staff on:

  • where to find extinguishers and how to use them
  • where to locate all exits in case of fire
  • the importance of cleaning, especially greasy equipment and surfaces
  • how to activate the hood system (manual pull station, just in case)

EQUIPMENT
Ensure all equipment is regularly inspected and well maintained. Malfunctioning kitchen equipment, such as stoves, ovens, and deep fryers are one of the leading causes of kitchen fires. Grease traps can be not only a fire hazard, but also a slip hazard.

OILY RAGS
Oily/greasy towels should be stored in a metal container with a lid. They should be laundered by a professional service. Oily/greasy towels can spontaneously combust in laundry bags or the dryer!

FIRE SUPPRESSION
There are strict regulations for maintaining fire suppression systems. These regulations include regular cleaning and servicing. You MUST comply to avoid potential legal issues or fines and, most importantly, to be sure your systems are ready to function as intended if there is a fire. Failure to clean and maintain systems could result in a fire loss that is not insured.

EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Work with your local fire department and create an emergency action plan that outlines what to do in case of fire. Review the plan regularly with your staff. Many fire departments offer free training for fire prevention and emergency preparedness.

 

Illinois Casualty Company is the Exclusive Preferred Vendor for liquor liability and business insurance. Qualifying Members can save up to 10% on their businessowners and liquor liability insurance. To find out more about these insurance programs and to locate an agent in your area, visit www.ilcasco.com/insurance-programs.

By in Latest News Comments Off on Does Your Insurance Cover Axe Throwing?

Does Your Insurance Cover Axe Throwing?

By Annie Stontz, Illinois Casualty Company

Axe throwing has become an increasingly popular activity, and many venues have begun catering to this interest. As most of these businesses combine the activity with serving food and alcohol, Illinois Casualty Company’s Underwriters have been receiving questions about whether there is coverage for this.

Most people could understand our concern over the risk that comes with combining alcohol consumption and axe throwing. As the activity has become more popular, we are seeing an increase in mobile axe throwing businesses that offer to bring the sport to a bar or restaurant.

If your bar/restaurant hires a mobile axe throwing business that can provide proof of insurance, will that be enough to protect your business?

There are a few things to consider before offering this activity at your bar/restaurant.

  • Is this a one-time event or will it be a regular recurring activity?
  • Will the activity take place on your premises or be contained and controlled by the axe throwing vendor?
  • If this is a recurring event and your bar/restaurant has facilities in place, what controls are there to prevent axe throwing at times other than when the vendor is present to supervise?
  • Does the vendor’s current GL coverage have limits equal to or exceeding that of your policy?

It is highly recommended that you have your attorney review the contract with the vendor. The agreement should clearly make the vendor liable for all injuries resulting from any axe throwing activity and contain “hold harmless” language for your business.

Even if all the boxes are checked, there can still be scenarios where a suit brings your business into the claim. The allegations for an “injury” can be based on negligence, intoxication, or both. The injured party can be a participant or a spectator.

How the claim or suit is presented determines which policy applies and whether you can tender the defense to the vendor. As with many situations like this, the more serious the “injury”, the more aggressively creative plaintiffs get, and the more difficult it is to remove your business from liability.

Understanding the issues will help you determine the extent of the risk you are willing to accept.

 

Editor’s Note: Illinois Casualty Company is the exclusive preferred vendor of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association for liability insurance products. Qualifying PLBTA Members can save up to 10% on their businessowners and liquor liability insurance. For more information about insuring your business with ICC, visit www.ilcasco.com/find-an-agent and talk to an ICC agent in your area.

By in Latest News Comments Off on ‘Don’t Let Temporary OPCP Regs Sunset’ Featured on Pennsylvania Tavern Talk

‘Don’t Let Temporary OPCP Regs Sunset’ Featured on Pennsylvania Tavern Talk

Pennsylvania Tavern Talk, a YouTube channel created by Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, released its next episode, featuring efforts to eliminate sunset provisions of Act 81 of 2021.

If the sunset rule is not eliminated, certain temporary licensee rights will terminate at the end of 2024. This episode specifically covers changes that were made to rules involving off-premise catering permits (OPCP).

You may recall that prior to Act 81 of 2021, those with OPCPs were limited in the number of off-premise events they could cater and were also limited in the number of hours per event they could provide. In addition, a fee was required to obtain an OPCP. Also, March 1 of each year served as an OPCP application deadline.

Act 81, which the PLBTA and other industry groups lobbied for, allowed an unlimited number of events, erased time limitations per event, and also eliminated the yearly fee and March 1 application deadline.

We should point out that Act 81 had several other parts including temporary extension of the licensed premises, which also expire on December 31, 2024.

As part of its 2023-’24 legislative agenda, the PLBTA Board of Directors would like to make these temporary rights permanent.

“It’s crazy to think that the state would revert back to outdated liquor code at the end of 2024,” says Moran, “But, that’s exactly what will happen if the sunset provisions aren’t addressed.”

In addition, Moran says a strong grassroots effort will be needed from the industry to make this happen.

The latest episode of Pennsylvania Tavern Talk covers Rep. Napoleon Nelson’s recent cosponsorship memo in which he recognizes that the industry continues to struggle as a result of past pandemic regulations. The cosponsorship memo indicates his interest to introduce legislation to eliminate the sunset provisions of Act 81 of 2021.

You can watch the episode (and share it) directly on YouTube by clicking here.

This episode is part of the “2023-24 Legislation” playlist series, covering bills and cospsonsorship memos that if successful will impact the industry.

You can watch all episodes of Pennsylvania Tavern Talk and subscribe to the channel by visiting www.youtube.com/@PennsylvaniaTavernTalkByChuck.

UPDATE … as of mid-May 2023, this is now HB 1160.

By in Latest News Comments Off on Getting To Know PaTaverns: Member-Only Benefits

Getting To Know PaTaverns: Member-Only Benefits

The next episode of Pennsylvania Tavern Talk has been released on YouTube. This episode is part of the “Getting To Know PaTaverns” playlist series and covers Member-only benefits.

In this episode, PLBTA Executive Director Chuck Moran introduces viewers to various benefits available to Members ranging from discounted liquor liability insurance to discounted online RAMP training.

“While the number one benefit of being a Member is lobbying at the state capitol,” Moran says, “there are other benefits that are often overlooked or underutilized that adds significant value to Membership.”

Moran encourages Members to take advantage of these benefits and support the Association’s preferred vendors. For example, he says the Association’s rebate program can put money back into the business, while others like Illinois Casualty Company can save qualifying Members significant money through discounts on liquor liability and business insurance.

“The savings from using benefits like the rebate program or insurance discounts often covers the cost of Membership and then some,” Moran says.

According to Moran, benefits change periodically, and an up-to-date list of preferred vendors can be found by clicking here.

Previous episodes of the “Getting To Know PaTaverns” playlist covered association governance and the role of Members.

In addition, Pennsylvania Tavern Talk has another playlist series that analyzes 2023-2024 legislation that would impact family-owned — small business — taverns, bars, and licensed restaurants.

Those interested can visit the Pennsylvania Tavern Talk channel by clicking here.

 

By in Latest News Comments Off on Getting To Know PaTaverns: The Role of Members

Getting To Know PaTaverns: The Role of Members

Pennsylvania Tavern Talk, a YouTube channel dedicated to the Keystone State’s family-owned taverns, bars, and licensed restaurants, released S1E4 as part of its playlist series titled Getting To Know PaTaverns.

In this episode, Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association (PLBTA), takes viewers through the role of Members. It can be viewed by clicking here.

“As a Member of our Association, those who join can define their role within membership that best fits their comfort level,” Moran says. “But for sure, being a Member comes with responsibility on behalf of the entire industry.”

Moran explains in this episode that some Members simply want to support the association through their annual dues in order for Pennsylvania’s small business taverns, bars, and licensed restaurants to have a lobbying presence at the state capitol.

Some take on a bigger role by becoming a grassroots activist and making calls and visits to their state senator and state representative in Harrisburg when directed by the PLBTA. Yet, others contribute to TavernPAC. Meanwhile, many wish to exercise their voice and vote as a Member by providing input and feedback to the association’s Board of Directors.

During the show, Moran says some go as far as volunteering to join the association’s Board of Directors when seats become available.

“Ultimately, each individual can define their role as a Member, and we hope that role will be an active participant in the political process on behalf of the industry … Organized Taverns,” Moran says.

The PLBTA is a statewide membership association responsible for organizing small business taverns, bars, and licensed restaurants for political purposes at the state capitol. While in existence since the 1940s, the association reorganized in 2019 and has since been responsible for several industry bills and changes to the liquor code that has impacted Pennsylvania’s bar trade.

Pennsylvania Tavern Talk is a YouTube channel that sheds light on political matters involving the industry at the state capitol and PLBTA news.

Those interested in subscribing to Pennsylvania Tavern Talk can do so by clicking here.

By in Latest News Comments Off on PaTavern Talk Covers Association Governance In New Series

PaTavern Talk Covers Association Governance In New Series

Pennsylvania Tavern Talk, a YouTube Channel dedicated to issues facing Pennsylvania bars, taverns, and licensed restaurants, has released Season 1, Episode 3 in which it covers association governance as part of its new series titled “Getting To Know PaTaverns.”

In the first of this series, host Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, covers how the association’s by-laws define how the organization will be run. He describes the PLBTA democracy, Member voice and vote, and its Board of Directors.

You can view this episode by clicking here.

Moran started Pennsylvania Tavern Talk in early 2023 to raise the profile of legislative and association happenings.

He says the next in the “Getting To Know PaTaverns” will cover the important role of Members in giving the industry a voice at the state capitol.

By in Latest News Comments Off on Formal letter to governor: PaTaverns at competitive disadvantage with other states

Formal letter to governor: PaTaverns at competitive disadvantage with other states

Chuck Moran, Executive Director

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association today delivered a formal letter to Governor Tom Wolf, indicating our state’s taverns and licensed restaurants are now at a competitive disadvantage as neighboring states ease industry COVID-19 restrictions.

Below is a copy of the letter.

 

March 10, 2021

The Honorable Thomas Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
508 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Governor Wolf,

Today, I had a conversation with a tavern owner who owns two establishments. One is in Waverly, NY, while the other is in Sayre, PA. The owner explained that her two locations are about one mile apart (1.3 miles or a two-minute drive according to MapQuest). Essentially, they’re in the same town and have the same patrons. Her establishment in New York will soon be at 75% indoor occupancy, while her Pennsylvania location will be left behind at 25%.

I’m sure there are similar stories in Southwestern Pennsylvania now that West Virginia has indicated they will allow 100% indoor occupancy. In addition, Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio have recently eased their restrictions.

As our neighboring states relax different types of industry restrictions, it puts Pennsylvania’s small business taverns and licensed restaurants at a competitive disadvantage, particularly those near the state line.

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association has appreciated your efforts to find $145 million to create grants that will help the industry we represent. But what we hear the most from our Members is how they really just want to earn their living.

To help these mom-and-pop businesses compete with establishments in nearby out-of-state communities, we urge you to please ease off some restrictions soon.

We ask you to move last call to a later time, allow bar top seating, remove food requirements, and increase occupancy limits, in licensees’ establishments where safety protocols are followed.

It’s been a long year for this industry as it found itself at the tip of the spear in the fight against COVID. Now, with the vaccine distribution progressing and COVID data improving, we are at a better place. With the one-year anniversary quickly approaching when you first ordered dine-in service closed, it would be nice to safely take a step or two towards normalcy by easing some industry restrictions.

Sincerely,
Chuck Moran
Executive Director

By in Latest News Comments Off on Survey Results: Small Business Taverns, Licensed Restaurants Severely Damaged Due To Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Order

Survey Results: Small Business Taverns, Licensed Restaurants Severely Damaged Due To Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Order

A survey of small business taverns and licensed restaurants indicates Pennsylvania could see a significant loss of locally owned establishments from closings as a result of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Orders.

The survey, conducted by the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association between August 25 and August 28, 2020, included 10 questions exploring financial difficulties.

Most troubling are indications that only 30 percent of the participating neighborhood-based establishments might survive the crisis. This is consistent with national surveys suggesting a possible loss of 70 percent of establishments.

In the PLBTA survey, participants were asked “Without any change to the Governor’s Order or financial assistance from the state and/or federal government, which best describes the future of your business after September 2020?”

Thirteen percent are already closed. Another five percent indicated they will close within a month, while 29 percent say they will likely close by the end of the year and 23 percent say they will likely close in 2021. Only 30 percent said they would not close.

Major layoffs and furloughs were also identified in the survey, again along the same lines as national studies. On average of those establishments participating in the survey, 13 employees per location lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 Orders. When extrapolated across the industry, considering small business R and H license locations alone, about 109,200 Pennsylvania jobs were lost.

Financially, July 2020 proved to be troubling. The average establishment completing this survey lost $227,179 in July 2020 compared to July 2019.

Only 29 percent of the survey participants said they have not faced any cash flow problems. That suggests 71 percent have had difficulty paying bills including rent, utilities, and loan repayments.

“These results shouldn’t surprise anyone,” said Chuck Moran, executive director of the PLBTA. “When you’re limited to 25 percent indoor capacity and have seen increased expenses along with other difficulties due to state orders, you can expect a serious crisis to develop. This industry can’t sustain itself under these conditions. Changes in state restrictions along with survival and recovery financial packages are needed.”

The survey also explored other business-related difficulties including food and beer deliveries as well as supply deliveries for items such as paper products and cleaning items.

Of those participating in the survey, 89 percent were small business, single-location establishments, while eight percent were small businesses with more than one location. All own either an “R” or “H” liquor license. Three percent were clubs with club liquor licenses. No national or regional chains participated in the survey.

A total of 1,234 invitations to take the survey were sent statewide. There were 100 businesses that completed the survey during the three days. As a result, this survey has a 10% margin of error with a 95% confidence level when considering small business R and H licensees in Pennsylvania.

Working members of the media may request a copy of the results by emailing pataverns@pataverns.com. Please include your name and media affiliation.

# # #

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.

By in Latest News Comments Off on PLBTA Testimony: Pa. Senate Democratic Policy Committee Investigates COVID Impact on Taverns, September 4, 2020

PLBTA Testimony: Pa. Senate Democratic Policy Committee Investigates COVID Impact on Taverns, September 4, 2020

Below is testimony provided by John Nikoloff on behalf of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association to the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee on Friday, September 4. The committee was investigating the impact of state COVID-19 orders on restaurants and taverns. Nikoloff is the PLBTA’s state lobbyist. In addition, he is the founder and partner in PA ERG, a lobbying firm based in Harrisburg.

 

Chairman Boscola, members of the Committee, good afternoon. I’m John Nikoloff of ERG Partners representing the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association.

Let me begin by thanking you for inviting the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association to testify today about the struggles of the industry as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and state orders. We appreciate being here to share the story of our Members and industry.

The Tavern Association represents more than 400 small business taverns, pubs, and licensed restaurants across the state. Most of our Members own “R” and “H” licenses while some may have an “E” or even a club license. For the most part, we are your local bars, taverns, pubs, and licensed restaurants. We do not actively recruit large chains, grocery stores, or convenience stores which have an R license.

In terms of business, our average Member makes a living primarily from alcohol sales. Based on our Membership studies, about 63 percent of their business is alcohol sales and 37% of sales are from food. For what it’s worth, the most popular beer served would be Bud, while the most popular mixed drink would be Jack and Coke.

Our average member employs about 16 individuals including the owner and family members. They serve less than 4,000 customers every month. If you count the chairs and barstools, throughout the Member establishments, you’ll find less than 100.

Simply put, our Members are your locally-owned, mom-and-pop neighborhood businesses.

For the sake of overall industry data, looking at the state list of active R, H and E licenses, there are about 9,400 licensees that are not grocery stores, convenience stores or large chains. These are primarily small businesses.

Knowing that my average Member employs about 16 individuals, Pennsylvania’s small business R, H and E licensees create around 150,000 jobs. And, assuming national industry data is correct, you can anticipate more than half are women, many of whom are single mothers.

This week, we wrapped up a survey of small business licensed restaurants and taverns. Our study clearly shows the struggle these establishments are having, and supports findings we’ve seen from national-level studies.

For example, on average, 13 employees per establishment lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 Orders. When extrapolated across the industry in Pennsylvania, this likely resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the entire industry. When just considering our small business R and H license locations, the state orders likely resulted in about 109,200 jobs lost.

When you consider our average Member employs 16 individuals, and an average 13 employees lost jobs per establishment – or 81 percent, our survey also supports national studies from earlier in the crisis that estimated 81 percent of industry employees were laid off or furloughed during the crisis.

Our survey also found that without any change in the state’s COVID-19 order, 70 percent of small business licensed restaurants are either closed or facing closing in the upcoming year. In the next month, 5 percent say they will close. Another 29 percent say they will likely close by the end of the year, while 23 percent say they will likely close in 2021.

Small business taverns and licensed restaurants along with their employees need your help. And they need it sooner rather than later.

My Members really want to work at full capacity. They’re not looking for another loan. They want to put people to work and let the public decide whether or not to dine indoors while following all appropriate health and safety measures.

But, since operating at 100 percent is not going to be allowed anytime soon, they have no choice but to seek survival and then recovery help to make up for not being allowed to use their licenses at 100 percent.

With colder months ahead, outdoor seating becomes problematic. The state should allow increased indoor dining using safety protocols.

Other than increased indoor dining, we asked in our survey what could help them the most. They responded as following:

  1. State Grants for $25,000 for expenses incurred to date (6.48 on a 7.0 scale)
  2. Forgiveness of license fees and surcharges for 2020-2021 (4.75)
  3. Conversion of sales taxes collected into grants for your bar/tavern/restaurant (4.45)
  4. Increase the state wholesale discount from 10-15% (4.35)
  5. Ability to retain revenues from skill games, VGTs (3.76)
  6. Elimination of the $50 minimum for wholesale discounts (2.24)
  7. Ability to purchase spirits and wine on 30 days credit (1.97)

Very clearly, our industry is looking to the legislature to pass survival bills to include grants and license fee forgiveness. An increase in their discount at state stores would be helpful.

We recognize that this is not a partisan issue, and appreciate your support and the legislation proposed by Sens. Brewster and Iovino, Sen. Boscola and others in the last month.

Since March, these small business establishments along with their employees have been on a downward spiral. They need your help, and they need it now.

In March and April, those who remained open were just barely keeping their heads above water when allowed only to offer take-out service. Some didn’t even open, because there was no way to NOT lose money operating on sales of less than 10% of normal.

That’s ten percent of normal, with 100% operational costs in an industry where the profit margin is well below five percent.

My Members thought they were beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as each county graduated from Red to Yellow and then to Green. While not the perfect business scenario for the industry, establishments were able to restart outdoor and indoor service with limitations, hiring staff back, generating economic activity, and helping the public begin to feel that we were moving again toward “normal.”

But, it turned out to be false hope. Governor Wolf’s order on July 15 was a setback for every tavern and licensed restaurant in the state – including the good apples who were doing everything right. It closed their bar seating, further limited indoor seating to 25 percent, and required a meal to be ordered with drinks either indoor or outdoor.

And I have to say that our Members’ frustrations have only grown because they have still not – six weeks later – seen any data that even suggests taverns and restaurants operating within the guidelines set by the Governor and Secretary Levine have been responsible for community spread of COVID-19. Instead, the general feeling is that an entire industry is being damaged beyond repair because of the perceived actions of a few bad actors which were not subjected to proper enforcement measures.

Our industry at a tipping point. Our local taverns and licensed restaurants need help if they are going to make it through this crisis and save jobs. We have separately provided a list of various state actions that might provide a lifeline to many of our drowning Members.

Thank you for the opportunity to present this testimony, and I welcome questions.

 

Pennsylvania Small Business Taverns and Licensed Restaurants Relief
and Recovery Recommendations

  1. Passage of legislation to provide grants to small business restaurants and taverns to assist with COVID-19-related business losses, and expenses including costs associated with new outdoor seating, educational expenses including trade association memberships, hand sanitizer, staff PPE, indoor separators (plexiglass installation), digital thermometers… etc.
  2. Elimination of all license fees and surcharges for liquor-related service establishments for two years, provided the establishment had previously allowed on-site consumption.
  3. Elimination of all small games of chance license fees for R, H, E, and clubs for two years.
  4. Passage of legislation providing limited civil immunity from liability for bars, taverns and restaurants that attempt, in good faith, to adhere to the provisions of the COVID-19 emergency declaration, the Governor’s 3-16-2020 COVID-19 Business Closure Order or any other executive order relating to COVID-19, or any guidance issued by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the Department of Health or the Secretary of Health.
  5. Creation of a Small Business Tavern and Licensed Restaurant Promotion Program coordinated by both the PLCB and the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association to equal those financed for the beer, wine and spirits craft industries.
  6. Create a Liquor Licensee Specialty Council consisting of specialty associations within the industry including taverns, clubs, brew pubs, wineries, and distilleries to build future industry/state government dialogue.
  7. Permanent acceptance of mixed drinks-to-go as a business practice under the state Liquor Laws.
  8. To save money from delivery charges, allow licensed establishments the ability to pick up and deliver their own malt beverage orders, like the model followed when ordering spirits through the PLCB.
  9. Encourage outdoor seating by making the free temporary licensed premise extensions permanent at no additional cost to the licensee.
  10. Encourage outdoor seating expansion and support the entertainment industry by allowing up to 75 decibels of noise on a property line for all establishments with a liquor license, not just some.
  11. Modernize the state’s sanitation requirements to require tap cleaning once every 14 days.
  12. Cap third-party delivery charges for home delivery of meals from all restaurants and taverns.
  13. Increase discount that licensed establishments receive when purchasing liquor through state stores.
  14. Eliminate the $50 minimum purchase requirement at state stores in order for a licensed establishment to receive a discount.