Navigating Pennsylvania’s strict PLCB liquor licensing rules can be challenging, especially when it comes to interlocking business prohibitions. Whether you’re applying for a restaurant liquor license or negotiating a lease...more
1/3/2025
/ Beer ,
Commercial Leases ,
Compliance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Distilleries ,
Distributors ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Liquor Licences ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Wine & Alcohol ,
Wineries
On July 17, 2024, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill No. 688 into law, now known as Act 86 of 2024. This legislation introduces a major change to the state’s liquor laws by permitting the sale of...more
9/24/2024
/ Certification Requirements ,
Distributors ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Importers ,
Liquor ,
Liquor Control Boards ,
Liquor Licences ,
New Legislation ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Wine & Alcohol
For any Pennsylvania establishment serving alcohol, Responsible Alcohol Management Program (RAMP) certification is a vital compliance requirement. Whether you manage a restaurant, bar, or any other venue selling alcohol,...more
On July 15, 2024, Governor Josh Shapiro signed legislation that amends Pennsylvania’s liquor code, specifically the duration of happy hours and the discounting of alcoholic beverages. These changes to the liquor code...more
In HUF Rest., Inc. v. Commonwealth, No. 394, 2024 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 105, at *1 (Pa. Commw. Ct. Apr. 24, 2024) the Commonwealth Court ruled that a buyer’s failure to obtain a bulk sale certificate made it liable for the...more
On December 14, 2023, Governor Shapiro signed House Bill No. 1096 into law, now known as Act 49 of 2023 (Act 49), which allows certain hotel licensees to apply to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to convert to...more
An Off-Premises Catering Permit (“Catering Permit”) empowers Restaurant, Hotel, and Eating Place licensees to sell alcohol outside their regular licensed premises. It enables the provision of food paired with alcoholic...more
Throughout my career as a hospitality and liquor license lawyer, I have been on the front lines of many successes and challenges in the industry. From inception of the business through succession, I have learned from...more
Last week the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) released information regarding its 12th auction of expired restaurant licenses. This auction is expected to have a significant impact on the culinary landscape across...more
Exciting news for restaurant owners in Pennsylvania with R-licenses! There is a proposed change to Pennsylvania’s Liquor Code that could increase your opportunity to sell alcohol outside your licensed premises. ...more
Get ready for a game-changer in tip reporting compliance! The Treasury Department and IRS have just announced the proposed launch of the Service Industry Tip Compliance Agreement (SITCA) program.
SITCA is a voluntary...more
Running a bar or restaurant in Pennsylvania requires having a valid liquor license. This license enables you to serve alcohol to your customers, thereby improving their dining experience and increasing your revenue. However,...more
Retail licensees in Pennsylvania are aware of the general rule that alcohol sales must occur on a premises that is licensed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).
Restaurant licenses, hotel licenses, and eating...more
A case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit highlights that, even in times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing federal grant money based on race and gender will likely violate the equal...more
6/17/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Due Process ,
Equal Protection ,
Federal Grants ,
Gender Discrimination ,
Minority-Owned Businesses ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Race Discrimination ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Restraining Orders ,
SBA ,
Small Business ,
Standing ,
Veterans
R licensees should immediately STOP selling cocktails to-go and serving alcohol in outdoor areas that were temporarily licensed under the Governor’s Emergency Declaration.
In a previous article that explained new...more
I previously wrote about how the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) created a $28.6 billion dollar Restaurant Revitalization Fund to help struggling food and beverage businesses. While the fund was created in March,...more
Following is additional information regarding the Pennsylvania state grant money that is available to hospitality businesses who suffered lost profits in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Additional federal grant money will soon be...more
Allegheny County announced that its COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) will begin accepting applications at noon on Monday, March 15 at https://alleghenycounty.us/CHIRP. The program allows businesses in...more
Restauranteurs across Pennsylvania breathed a collective sigh of relief this week as the three-week ban on indoor dining ordered by Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine came to an end. A struggling industry...more
1/6/2021
/ Business Closures ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Due Process ,
Equal Protection ,
First Amendment ,
Fourteenth Amendment ,
Governor Wolf ,
Injunctive Relief ,
Irreparable Harm ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Shelter-In-Place
Pennsylvania restaurants and diners alike rejoiced as Governor Wolf announced that outdoor dine-in service can resume in “yellow phase” counties, including Allegheny, beginning as soon as next Friday, June 5th. With this...more
Restaurants, bars, and hotels have experienced tough financial times since the coronavirus pandemic started. Government action forced restaurants to close dine-in service, resulting in mass layoffs and a pivot to take-out and...more
To those in the hospitality industry, it’s no secret that Pennsylvania liquor licenses are tough to come by. Retail, or “R” liquor licenses, are the type typically associated with a full-service restaurant but are in short...more
10/2/2019
/ Beverage Manufacturers ,
Breweries ,
Distilleries ,
License Fees ,
Liquor Control Boards ,
Liquor Licences ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Retail Licenses ,
Retailers ,
Small Business ,
Wineries
A customer walks out of a restaurant and exclaims to her date “that is the best _______ I have ever tried…nobody can make that dish the way this place does.” A restaurant’s signature appetizer, entrée, or drink often define...more