Pennsylvania brings back ready-to-drink cocktails
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
/2024/07/18/1721326279096.gif?w=3840)
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Ready-to-drink cocktails are returning to Pennsylvania's restaurants and gas stations.
Why it matters: You'll soon be able to pick up canned cocktails at your neighborhood spots.
State of play: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bill on Wednesday, which will make High Noons, Surfsides and other spirit-based drinks available to carry out in 60 days (but no, not in time for Labor Day).
How it works: Restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations can sell to-go until 11pm.
- The drinks can't contain more than 16 ounces or have an alcohol content of more than 12.5%, but you can buy up to two six-packs at one time.
- Drinks aren't limited to cans, but only permitted distillers can produce them: That means restaurants and bars can't mix and sell their own as they did during the pandemic.
Between the lines: Canned cocktails were already available at state-run Fine Wine & Good Spirits locations.
The intrigue: It remains to be seen whether industry fees will dampen interest from retailers and limit availability.
- The permit for to-go sales costs $2,500 up front plus 2% of annual sales.
Flashback: The state expanded the availability of ready-to-drink cocktails to some 12,000 establishments during the pandemic, which became a lifeline for some bars and restaurants.
Yes, but: The industry was caught off guard when the state revoked to-go sales in mid-2021 at the same time it ended its disaster declaration.
What they're saying: The new law will boost businesses' bottom line, Alex Baloga, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, tells Axios.
Editor's note: The headline and story have been updated to clarify that the legislation affects ready-to-drink cocktails.