Beatrix Montes
Pennsylvania's liquor laws are notoriously complex and restrictive. The state has strict regulations on the sale of alcohol, which can be traced back to the Prohibition era and Governor Gifford Pinchot, a teetotaler who wanted to discourage the purchase of alcoholic beverages by making it as inconvenient and expensive as possible.
Today, the amount of beer one can buy at a grocery store in Pennsylvania is limited to 192 fluid ounces per transaction, which is equivalent to two six-packs and a little extra, or one twelve-pack. This restriction is in place for all grocery stores and convenience stores that sell beer, and it applies to both in-store and online purchases.
However, it's worth noting that these laws have been relaxed in recent years, with Governor Tom Wolf signing Acts 39 and 166 into law in 2016, allowing for expanded hours and loosening restrictions on beer and wine sales.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Maximum amount of beer that can be bought per transaction | 192 fluid ounces (generally 2 six-packs and a little left over, or one 12-pack and one 4-pack) |
| Maximum amount of wine that can be bought per transaction | 3 liters (equivalent to 4 750-milliliter bottles, or one box of wine) |
| Number of transactions allowed | Multiple transactions are allowed, but the purchased alcohol must be taken outside the store before the next transaction |
| Age restriction | 21 years or older |
| ID requirements | A valid, non-expired driver's license, passport, or military ID. Other forms of ID may be accepted at the store's discretion. |
| Purchase locations within the store | A dedicated register or checkout area for alcohol, often within a designated "beer cafe" or "alcohol zone" |
| Scanning of ID | Required by some stores |
| Additional purchase requirements | All members of a group must provide valid ID if asked. Minors are not allowed to accompany the buyer, even if they are family members. |
| Receipt requirements | A paid sticker or receipt attached to the alcohol purchase, allowing customers to continue shopping in the store |
| Store types that sell beer | Grocery stores, convenience stores, beer distributors, bottle shops, bars, and breweries |
| Store types that sell wine | Grocery stores, convenience stores, bottle shops, and wineries |
What You'll Learn
Buying alcohol at a grocery store: check-out procedures
Where to buy alcohol in a grocery store
In Pennsylvania, alcohol is usually sold in a designated area of the grocery store, often called a 'beer cafe' or 'cafe'. Some stores, like Wegmans, have dedicated alcohol checkouts, while others, like Giant and Weis, have a separate checkout counter in the alcohol section.
Buying alcohol first or last
You can buy alcohol at any point during your grocery shopping. You do not need to leave the store or put your alcohol in your car after buying it. However, if you are buying other items, you will need to go back to the separate cash registers near the alcohol section to make your alcohol purchase first.
ID requirements
You must be 21 or older to buy alcohol in Pennsylvania. Cashiers are required to check your ID and may use a transaction scan device to verify your age. Make sure you have a valid, non-expired driver's license or another form of ID with a photo, birth date, and expiration date. All members of your group must be over 21 and have valid IDs.
Alcohol limits
There are limits to how much alcohol you can buy per transaction. You can buy up to 192 fluid ounces of beer (equivalent to 12 16-ounce cans or two six-packs) and/or 3 liters of wine (equivalent to four 750-milliliter bottles or one box of wine) per transaction. If you want to buy more, you will need to make multiple transactions and take each purchase outside the store between transactions.
Combining alcohol and grocery purchases
As of August 4, 2022, customers may be able to use more cash registers in grocery and convenience stores to make their alcohol purchases. Stores can now allow customers to combine food and alcohol purchases at a standard cash register, provided they meet certain requirements. These include having cash registers within the same building as the area licensed for alcohol sales, posting signage indicating which registers allow alcohol sales, and having a staff member who is 18 or older and has completed Responsible Alcohol Management Program (RAMP) training to operate the register.
Store policies
Keep in mind that individual stores may have their own policies regarding alcohol sales. For example, some stores may require you to leave the entire store and come back in after each transaction, while others may only require you to step over a designated line. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the policies of the store you are shopping at to avoid any issues.
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Buying limits at Giant/Weis
Giant and Weis are grocery stores in Pennsylvania that have a 'beer cafe' where you have to check out with the beer/wine/whatever. You can then continue shopping in the store for whatever else you need.
The buying limit at Giant and Weis is 192 ounces of beer per transaction. The law is worded as "192 oz beer and/or wine", so you can buy two six-packs of beer and two bottles of wine. If you want to buy more than the limit, you'll have to make another transaction and take each purchase outside the store to your car before making another purchase.
The limit of 192 oz of beer per transaction is a hard state rule that can get the supermarket in trouble if broken. This limit is in place because supermarkets are required to sell via a restaurant license, which does not allow for the sale of wine to go, only beer. Therefore, all supermarkets have an additional "wine expanded permit" that allows them to sell wine to go.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board was created to license establishments, set serving hours, and regulate prices. The state has strict alcohol laws that can be traced back to the Prohibition era and Governor Gifford Pinchot, who served from 1923 to 1935 and maintained a tough stance on alcohol control even after Prohibition was repealed during his second term.
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Buying limits at Wegmans
In terms of buying limits on alcohol, Wegmans has a limit of 192 fluid ounces of beer per transaction. This amounts to two six-packs and a little left over, or one twelve-pack and twelve fluid ounces left over. You can buy more than the limit, but you will need to take each purchase outside to your car and leave it there before making another purchase.
Wegmans also sells wine, with a limit of three litres of wine per transaction. This is the equivalent of four 750ml bottles or one box of wine. Again, you can buy more than the limit, but you will need to make separate transactions.
Some Wegmans stores have a dedicated register or checkout area for alcohol, while others have a dedicated checkout counter in a separate area. You can buy alcohol first or last, and you can walk around the store with it after you've bought it. A paid sticker or receipt will be attached to the alcohol to indicate that it has been paid for.
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Buying limits at Acme
Acme is a supermarket chain in Pennsylvania that sells beer and wine. Pennsylvania's alcohol laws are notoriously complex and strict, with a long history of attempting to make alcohol as "inconvenient and expensive" to purchase as possible.
At Acme, you can buy up to 192 fluid ounces of beer per transaction, which is equivalent to 12 16-ounce cans or two six-packs and a little extra. For wine, you can buy up to 3 litres per transaction, or four 750-millilitre bottles. If you want to buy more than this limit, you will have to make another transaction. However, you don't need to leave the store or put your alcohol in your car between purchases; you simply have to walk your alcohol over a designated line, and then you can go back and buy more.
Acme has a dedicated checkout area for alcohol, which is mandatory to use when purchasing alcohol. You can buy alcohol at any point during your shop, and you don't have to leave the store immediately after purchasing it. You can continue shopping in the main store, but you will need to have your ID ready, as it will be scanned by the cashier before they can ring up the sale.
Acme's alcohol sales hours are likely to be restricted, with sales prohibited before 9 am and after 10 pm on weekdays and Sundays. On Sundays, a special license is required to sell beer, and sales are only permitted between 11 am and 7 pm, with the exact hours depending on the district, county, and level classification of the store.
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Buying limits at Shop Rite
Shop Rite is a grocery store in Pennsylvania that sells alcohol. Due to Pennsylvania's complex and strict alcohol laws, there are buying limits at Shop Rite. The state has a limit of 192 fluid ounces of beer per transaction, which is equivalent to 12 16-ounce cans or two six-packs and a little left over. Shop Rite may require you to take your first two six-packs to your car before purchasing another two. This is because the law states that alcohol must leave the restricted sale zone, but it is not required to leave the entire store.
Additionally, you can only buy 3 liters of wine per transaction, which is equivalent to four 750-milliliter bottles or one box of wine. If you want to buy more than the limit, you will have to make another transaction and take the alcohol outside.
At Shop Rite, there is a designated area for buying alcohol, and you must be at least 21 years old to purchase it. You can buy alcohol at any point during your shopping, but you must buy it at the register within the designated alcohol area. You will need to show your ID, which the cashier will scan to verify your age.
Pennsylvania's alcohol laws can be traced back to the Prohibition era and Governor Gifford Pinchot, who was a teetotaler. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board was created to license establishments, regulate prices, and set serving hours. The state has strict rules regarding alcohol sales, and it is important to follow these rules to avoid any issues.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy up to 192 fluid ounces of beer per transaction, which is the equivalent of 12 16-ounce cans or two six-packs and a little left over.
Yes, but you will have to make a separate transaction for each additional 192 fluid ounces. You can take your first two six-packs out to your car and then go back in to purchase more.
You will have to pay for your beer at a designated register within the alcohol sales area. Some stores have a separate "beer cafe" or "beer garden" where you can also buy food, while others have a dedicated checkout counter in the alcohol section.
Yes, you can continue shopping in the main store after buying beer. You don't have to leave the store or put your beer in your car before buying other items. However, you will need to show your ID and get your beer scanned at the designated register in the alcohol sales area before continuing to shop.
