The Pennsylvania State-run liquor system will begin rationing of a few dozen products on Friday in response to what it describes as supply shortages beyond its control.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board notified license holders on Thursday that two-bottle per day purchase limits for customers at state stores, as well as for bars, restaurants and other license holders, will remain in place indefinitely.
The PLCB said sustained supply chain disruptions and product shortages prompted the restrictions on certain types of alcohol.
The 43 restricted products on the list will not be available from Friday through store transfers.
The list of specific booze — a small fraction of the vast array of items the state liquor system sells — contains rationed types of champagne, bourbon, tequila, cognac and whiskey. The rationing will remain in place for the foreseeable future and until the supply chain becomes more reliable, PLCB said.
The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association said it will make it more difficult for members to run their businesses.
Supply and labor issues are not helping with recovery after the pandemic, the business association said in a statement. We hope the Legislature will take all of this into consideration when they return to Harrisburg. H.C.Scanlon PLCB spokesman Shawn Kelly said bars, restaurants and other customers were informed of the purchase restrictions on Thursday.
If you take a look at stories that came out from around the country because of COVID - 19, supply chains have been disrupted, production has been disrupted, Kelly said. In some cases shortages of cans and bottles have arisen. Supply shortages in North Carolina have caused restaurants and bars to scramble to find popular brands, with supply shortages made more acute because of pandemic-era increases in customer demand.