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Liquor reform is just talk

2 min read

I am incredulous over Gov. Tom Wolf’s crowing about the baby steps that the commonwealth has taken to make purchasing alcohol a bit less restrictive than it has been.

“This historic liquor reform package — the largest since prohibition ended 80 years ago — enhances the customer experience by providing Pennsylvanians with greater convenience and satisfaction. That’s government that works!” said Gov. Wolf. No, it does not work, sir!

Those of us who purchase alcoholic beverages in our commonwealth are not likely to conclude that Prohibition ended 80 years ago and the recently enacted legislation affecting alcohol sales will not bring it to a conclusion either. Consumers will not be able to purchase more than four bottles of wine per trip from a grocery store and the repressive, arcane, and archaic state liquor stores will survive to inflict themselves on those who seek to purchase a bottle of liquor.

In most of the country, one can purchase wine, beer, and liquor at one convenient location like a pharmacy. I have seen no evidence that crimes related to drunkenness are any higher in those jurisdictions nor that such availability has led to a societal breakdown.

Imagine what would take place if purchasing a gun were subject to the restrictions and red tape imposed upon the individual who seeks a bottle of gin. If our elected officials saw to it that only a government agent was empowered to purvey a gun and that the sale should be made expensive and inconvenient. There would be an armed takeover of Harrisburg by the National Rifle Association in no time!

Oren M. Spiegler

Upper Saint Clair

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