Cheers

This week the state of Pennsylvania took a giant leap – to steal a phrase from Neil Armstong – out of the dark ages.

The Wegmans supermarket chain won court approval to sell beer in the cafes inside some of their stores. You’d also be able to buy two six-packs to go in the supermarket.

It’s a crack in the dinosaur methods this state uses to dispense alcohol. I won’t go into the details here, about how you have to go one place to buy a case of beer, another if you only want to buy a six-pack, and still another if your desire is for a bottle of wine of alcohol.

I’m still in favor of blowing up the entire system and converting the whole thing to private enterprise.

Imagine being able, as people in so many states can, of grabbing a bottle of your favorite wine or spirit while doing your weekly grocery shopping.

Or picking up a quick six-pack when you stop at the convenience store.

Not in this state. But maybe that’s beginning to change. It’s about time.

It can’t happen fast enough for me. Of course, I won’t be buying beer for the next 40 days anyhow.

Here’s a Lenten pledge for state officials. Why not give up the silly way we deal with alcohol and come out of the dark ages?

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