There is a huge new development in the push to privatize the sale of booze in Pennsylvania.
Specifically, there is a new player on the scene, a big one and one that calls Delco home.
I'm talking about none other than our very own Wawa.
The convenience store is now looking to do something it has never done before, that is sell beer at one of it stores.
Wawa has asked Concord Township for permission to sell six-packs at its store at 721 Naamans Road in Concord. It would be the first time Wawa has entered the fierce arena of beer sales in Pennsylvania, although they do sell suds at some of their stores in other states.
A hearing on the matter is set for June 30.
This marks a distinct change in Wawa's position. For years every time this situation came up, they indicated they had no interest in selling booze. Then when the liquor privatization debate started to heat up in Harrisburg, they noted they would keep their options open. Now it looks like they're ready to jump into the fray.
For now it appears as if Wawa's push for beer sales is limited to this single store, although if you read between the lines it's not hard to see that expanding, especially as Pennsylvania continues to hotly debate the notion of privatizing alcohol sales.
Local beer distributors, which recently won the right to sell beer in 12-packs, as opposed to by the case only, likely will not be thrilled about the possibility of six-packs being available at the local convenience store. The same goes for local taverns and delis, many of which sell take-out beer, and are limited to six-packs.
All of this stems from the state's arcane laws dealing with the sale of alcohol, which date back to Prohibition days. In short, if you want to buy wine or alcohol, you must visit your local state store. Beer? Well, if you want a case, that means a trip to the local beer distributor or beverage store, although they recently won the right to sell by the 12-pack as well. If you want a six-pack, that for the most part has meant a third trip, this time to the neighborhood tavern or deli.
Some supermarkets, including Acme and Wegmans, recently have been pushing for beer sales, and now offer six- and 12-packs in many stores.
Republicans in the state Legislature want to blow the whole thing up and privatize alcohol sales. We're all for that. The unions, as well as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, are opposed. They favor modernizing the current system, and note that those state stores provide a huge chunk of revenue to the state, which is currently looking at a whopping deficit.
I have always said this comes down to convenience.
I went to school in Colorado, where every 7-Eleven sold cold six-packs, and every supermarket had aisles where you could find just about any wine, beer or spirit you can imagine. I'm not making this up. There are places in the U.S., actually some not far from here, where you can actually pick up a case of beer, a six-pack or a bottle of wine, and put it right in the cart along with your other groceries.
Concord Township seems to be at the heart of this push. Several supermarkets out there, including an Acme, feature beer sales. And a new Wegmans set to open in November will also have a section of the store designated for beer sales. The problem with Wegmans is that it is still not terribly convenient. The beer is in a separate area of the store, set off from the groceries, and you have to pay for it there, you can't simply put it in your cart and pay for it along with the rest of the groceries. You also are limited to buying a 12-pack at a time. If you want two 12-packs (meaning a case), that means taking one out to the car, then returning to the store and grabbing another one. Not exactly what you would call convenient. They also card EVERY person buying beer. They actually scan your license. I'm way past the idea of liking the idea of being carded, although I know why they do it, because of the fear of sales to underage kids.
Beer sales at Wawa? Now that sounds convenient to me.
Wawa operates more than 600 stores in several states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and a recent expansion into Florida.
Of course, they call Delco home, having originated at the Wood family family farm in Chester Heights.
Their corporate headquarters is still located out on Baltimore Pike.
The derive their name from that village. Wawa is the native American name for the goose that also calls this region home.
I think Wawa is about to seriously 'goose' the beer wars and the discussion about the sale of alcohol in Pa.
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