Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes certain stores to sell mixed alcoholic beverages to-go.

Highlights:

• Defines "ready-to-drink cocktail" as a beverage, composed in part of spirits, combined with other nonalcoholic ingredients, carbonated or still, by whatever name such beverage may be called, premixed and packaged in original containers, containing no more than sixteen ounces, provided that it is not mixed or adulterated on the licensed premises of a licensee (Sec. 102).

• Authorizes Pennsylvania liquor stores to sell ready-to-drink cocktails but are not restricted to the ready-to-drink cocktail container limits or alcohol by volume limits (Sec. 2.L).

• Requires licensees, other than clubs, to be permitted to sell ready-to-drink cocktails for off-premises consumption where sold in quantities of not more than 192 fluid ounces in a single sale to one person in the same manner as malt or brewed beverages (Sec. 401).

• Prohibits sales of ready-to-drink cocktails for off-premises consumption from taking place after 11  o'clock postmeridian of any day until the licensee's permitted hours of operation under this law of the following day (Sec. 4-2).

• Authorizes licensed public venues to sell liquor, ready-to-drink cocktails, and malt or brewed beverages on Sundays from 11 o'clock antemeridian until midnight without the need to acquire or qualify for a special permit (Sec. 4-7.D).

• Prohibits the following licensees from selling prepared beverages and mixed drinks for off-premises consumption under this law (Sec. 4.J-2):

• A licensee whose underlying license is subject to a pending objection by the director of the Bureau of Licensing or the board, until the matter is decided;

• A licensee whose underlying license has been suspended; and

• A licensee that has an interior connection to a grocery store, convenience store, or department store.

• Authorizes liquor and wine in the possession of a licensee at the time the licensed business closes permanently may be sold to another licensee qualified to sell such products (Sec. 4.K).

• Specifies if a restaurant liquor license holder has an interior connection to another business that it operates, the restaurant liquor license holder may use one or more of the registers in the other business to sell malt or brewed beverages and ready-to-drink cocktails for off-premises consumption under the following conditions (Sec. 6-2):

• The building is 11,000 square feet or less;

• The registers are located in the same building as the licensed premises;

• The registers comply with the signage, staffing, training, carding, scanning, and prohibition on the sharing of data; and

• The board has been provided notice of compliance with this paragraph by the restaurant liquor license holder, including square footage of the building and the location of the specified registers to be used before their use.

• Authorizes a slot machine licensee or an affiliated designee holding a restaurant liquor or eating place retail dispenser license and which sells liquor, ready-to-drink cocktails, or malt or brewed beverages at or adjacent to a gaming facility under this act may apply to the board for a casino liquor license (Sec. 416).

• Authorizes, upon receipt of a request from a licensed club, catering club, restaurant, retail dispenser, hotel, limited distillery, distillery, brewery, or limited winery, the board may temporarily extend the licensed premises of the applicant to include any outside serving area that is (Sec. 417-1)

• Immediately adjacent to the existing licensed areas; or

• Within one thousand feet of the main licensed building, notwithstanding that the area to be temporarily licensed and the main licensed building are separated by a public thoroughfare.

Full Bill Text