Happy New Year! Welcome to 2019.
Actually our devoted Pennsylvania lawmakers beat us to the punch. The state constitution mandates that they actually convene on Jan. 1 to take the oath of office.
Today offers a reminder of one bit of outstanding business they still need to address.
OK, this one is personal.
You might say that I am the state's foremost critic of the way Pennsylvania handles the sale of booze.
Having said that, I can admit the state has come a long way.
Today we have a reminder of just how far.
It was on this date in 1934, that the first so-called "state store" opened in Pennsylvania.
It was the days after Prohibition. In fact just four days after the repeal of the booze ban, Gov. Gifford Pinchot established the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and put the sale of booze in the hands of the state. Pinchot was not a fan of alcohol, and apparently wanted to make it as expensive as possible to dampen consumption.
He's been wildly successful.
This is the archaic way Pennsylvania has handled alcohol sales ever since.
Today's "Fine Wine and Spirits Stores" are a far cry from the old, original outlets.
Does anyone remember when you actually had to go up to a counter and tell the surly clerk exactly what you wanted. He would then go into the back and return with your bottle.
Today, we can browse the aisles and shop like most other states.
But it's still all controlled by the state.
There is not Total Wine, or any other big box booze store.
You can now buy a bottle of wine or a couple of six packs of booze in many supermarkets.
If you want a case, you still have to make a trip to your local beer distributor.
And I'm still dead set against this process.
I still want to be there on the day when they push the plunger and blow up this system and turn it all over to private enterprise.
I'm not going to hold my breath.
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