Although online shopping and delivery had already been the norm for many households, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated e-commerce and dramatically changed the way many consumers purchase their goods and services, including alcohol. With restrictions on indoor dining, the temporary closure of Pennsylvania’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits (FWGS) stores, and overall health concerns about face-to-face transactions, the number of options for purchasing alcohol were limited. Retailers, such as bars and restaurants, saw on-premise sales plummet or become nonexistent. Without retail accounts to sell alcohol directly to consumers, manufacturers had to pivot and look for other avenues to sell their products. On the demand side, home-bound consumers were in search of new, safer ways to purchase alcohol from the comfort of their couches or contactless pick-up options.

By implementing existing, but previously seldom used, delivery and shipping methods and quick changes in the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, manufacturers and retailers were able to adjust their operations in order to meet the demand and new consumer expectations. Although many provisions of the current Liquor Code leave much to be desired, it has provided convenience to consumers and an important lifeline for the Pennsylvania alcohol industry.

Beer

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