Pennsylvania's Sunday Beer Buying Hours Explained

Pennsylvania has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the US, which can be traced back to the Prohibition era and the stance of Gifford Pinchot, governor from 1923 to 1935. While the state is not dry, it does have a complex web of rules and regulations surrounding the sale of alcohol. So, what time can you buy beer on a Sunday in Pennsylvania?

Beer can be purchased on Sundays in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the United States, which can be traced back to the Prohibition era. While it is not a dry state, it does have a number of dry municipalities. The state's liquor laws have been described as "frustrating and restrictive", and have only recently been loosened.

Specific locations with the required licences may open later on Sundays but are not allowed to open earlier. The hours of operation of beer distributors are typically similar to those of Wine and Spirits stores and other retail establishments. These hours are only restricted by the state on Sundays, where a special licence is required to sell beer, and sales before 9 am are not permitted.

Pennsylvania's liquor laws can be confusing, and it can be difficult to know where to go to purchase alcohol. Beer distributors are the main place to buy beer in the state, but it can also be purchased from bars and restaurants, breweries and taprooms, and some supermarkets and gas stations.

Licensed retail locations and their Sunday hours

In Pennsylvania, licensed retail locations, including bars and restaurants, can sell beer between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m. from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, these timings change, and they can sell beer from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Monday morning. However, this is only permitted if they possess a Sunday sales permit. These sales are restricted to on-premise consumption, and no to-go sales are allowed.

Beer distributors and breweries can sell beer on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a Sunday Sales Permit. Distributors can sell beer in any amount, while breweries can sell beer on tap and for off-premise consumption in 6- or 12-packs, 15-pack varieties, or packaged growlers.

Retailers with eating places or 'cafes' may sell beer on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday morning with a Sunday Sales Permit. These retailers can sell up to 192 fluid ounces of beer per purchase, which is the equivalent of 12 16-ounce cans.

Pennsylvania grocery stores can also sell beer on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. with a permit. However, most grocery stores are not open until 2 a.m.

Additionally, several convenience store chains, such as Royal Farms, Rutter's, Sheetz, Turkey Hill, and Wawa, sell beer at select locations.

Sunday sales times for distributors, breweries, and retailers

Pennsylvania has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the United States. These laws can be traced back to the Prohibition era and the state's former governor, Gifford Pinchot, who was a teetotaler. While the state does not have any dry counties, there are still many municipalities that are at least partially dry.

Beer distributors, which sell beer in larger quantities, can operate from 9 am to 9 pm on Sundays, provided they have a Sunday Sales Permit. During the rest of the week, they are typically open from 8 am to 11 pm.

Breweries and taprooms are open from 9 am to midnight, Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays from 9 am to 9 pm for on-premise consumption. They require a Sunday Sales Permit for off-premise sales on Sundays but not for on-premise consumption.

Licensed retail locations, including bars and restaurants, can sell beer from 7 am to 2 am, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, with a proper permit, they can sell beer from 9 am to 2 am Monday morning. Retailers with eating places or 'cafes' may sell beer on Sundays from 11 am to 2 am Monday morning.

Grocery stores can sell beer from 7 am to 2 am, Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays from 9 am to 2 am with a Sunday Sales Permit.

Pennsylvania's complex alcohol laws

Pennsylvania's alcohol laws are complex and peculiar when compared to other states, and they can be traced back to the Prohibition era. Gifford Pinchot, who served as governor from 1923 to 1935, was a teetotaler and maintained a tough stance on alcohol control even after Prohibition was repealed during his second term. Pinchot believed that the best way to prevent corruption in the alcohol industry was through state control, and so the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board was created to license establishments, set serving hours, and regulate prices.

Retail Licenses

Retail establishments selling alcohol in Pennsylvania must be licensed. The Liquor Control Board operates on a quota system, which has changed several times. Currently, the quota is one license per 3,000 county inhabitants, but licenses in areas that exceed the quota are still valid. There are several types of liquor licenses available, including retail liquor licenses and retail dispenser licenses. Retail liquor licenses can sell liquor, wine, malt, and brewed beverages for consumption on the premises, while retail dispenser licenses are limited to selling brewed and malt beverages only.

Serving Hours

For both types of retail licenses, serving hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, provided the establishment has a Sunday Sales Permit. There are exceptions that allow serving alcohol earlier than 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.

Additional License Categories

There are several additional license categories, including restaurant liquor, municipal golf course liquor, airport restaurant liquor, and privately-owned public golf course restaurant liquor. Club licenses include private members-only fraternal organizations, which are allowed to operate until 3:00 a.m.

Distributor Licenses

The distributor license is for establishments selling larger quantities of beer, generally in cases and kegs. Beverage distributors are permitted to sell beer in any amount, while supermarkets have quantity restrictions. People under 21 may enter most beverage distributors without an adult because they also sell non-alcoholic products.

State-Owned Stores

Pennsylvania is an alcoholic beverage control state, meaning spirits can only be sold in state-owned Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores, which also sell wine but not beer. State stores typically operate from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays, many stores sell liquor from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., depending on the location.

Wineries and Supermarkets

Wineries are common in Pennsylvania, and persons under 21 are permitted to enter. Wine was once available in supermarket kiosks, but this practice has ended. Many supermarkets now operate attached restaurants where they can sell small quantities of wine and beer, provided they meet specific conditions.

Beer Distributors and Retailers

Beer may be purchased from a distributor or in limited quantities at supermarkets. Beer distributors typically operate from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sundays with a Sunday Sales Permit. There is no limit to the amount of alcohol purchased per transaction at beer distributors. Bars, restaurants, and gas stations can also sell beer, but only for on-premise consumption.

Delivery and Curbside Pickup

Beer delivery and curbside pickup are legal in Pennsylvania and are offered by breweries and restaurants. These locations may sell and deliver beer between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays with a Sunday Sales Permit.

The minimum drinking age in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the United States. The minimum drinking age in Pennsylvania is 21 years old, which is the same as the rest of the country. However, some states have exceptions to this rule, but Pennsylvania does not. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for minors to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol, even if it is provided by their immediate family. There are no exceptions for parents who wish to give their children alcohol in their presence. It is also illegal to knowingly sell or provide alcohol to minors, and licensed stores are prohibited from selling alcohol to visibly intoxicated people and minors.

Pennsylvania's complex alcohol laws can be traced back to the Prohibition era. Gifford Pinchot, who served as governor from 1923 to 1935, had a "dry" stance on alcohol. Even after Prohibition was repealed during Pinchot's second term, he maintained his strict stance on alcohol control. Pinchot believed that the best way to prevent corruption in the alcohol industry was through state control. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board was created to license establishments, set serving hours, and regulate prices.

Pennsylvania has no dry counties, but as of January 2019, there were 683 municipalities that were at least partially dry. Many of these dry or moist municipalities are small communities in rural areas. Retail establishments selling alcohol must be licensed. The Liquor Control Board operates on a quota system, which has changed over the years. The current quota is one license per 3,000 county inhabitants, but existing licenses in areas that exceed the quota are still valid.

There are several types and sub-categories of liquor licenses available in the state. A retail license allows for the on-premises sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Retail licenses are divided into two categories: retail liquor licenses and retail dispenser licenses. Retail liquor licenses can sell liquor, wine, malt, and brewed beverages, while retail dispenser licenses can only sell brewed and malt beverages.

Retail liquor licenses can sell liquor, wine, malt, and brewed beverages for consumption on-premises. A restaurant or hotel that has sold a customer a bottle of wine with a meal may allow the patron to take the bottle off-premises as long as it is re-sealed. A peculiarity in Pennsylvania is that brewed or malt beverages can be sold for off-premises consumption in quantities less than or equal to 192 ounces (usually 6-packs and 12-packs of beer). This means that many bars and restaurants also function as beer stores.

For both types of retail licenses, serving hours are from 7:00 am to 2:00 am Monday through Saturday, and from 11:00 am to 2:00 am on Sundays, provided the establishment has a Sunday Sales Permit. There are some exceptions that allow serving alcohol earlier than 11:00 am on Sundays.

Frequently asked questions