Expert: Eric Hofer - 1/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: I would like to open a beer distributer business in PA.
My intentions are to sell retail cases of beer and soft drings to the general public. I do not want to have a wholesale business.

ANSWER: Gene,

I cannot comment as I don't know what the question is.

Eric

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: How do I go about obtaining the proper license/permit/application etc...?

ANSWER: Gene,

There are 2 different things you are talking about here.  A Distributor which is a business that sells to other businesses - which would probably be a wholesaler, and an on-premise establishment, such as a bar, that sells to general public.  

Your first sentence says, "open a beer distributer [sic]"... Your second is retail to the general public ...

I'm going to have to assume here that you're looking to get a license to open a drinks establishment, and that you're mistaken as to what is meant by distributor.  In this case, you're looking for licensing a drinking establishment; the steps are straightforward:

http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/for_licensees/17488

I see that I've already explained this in my posting in 2008...

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Beverage-Distribution-2426/2008/1/open-beer-distribut

Hope this helps.

Eric



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Eric,
I will try to be more specific.
I currently own my own commercial building in Pennsylvania and would like to sell beer by the case only, to the general public. I do not want to sell to other businesses and this would not be a bar where you could sit down and order a single beer.

Regards,
Gene

Answer
Gene,

Please follow through to the website mentioned before, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is the place to enquire for both drinking establishments and sale for off-site consumption.  They offer a variety of forms for the different situaitons, a phone number to call for help.  

The page with loads of applications (as of today) is:

http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/applications_and_forms/174

One that seems to relate to your situation is the one for a new retailer and dispenser of alcohol:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=611813&mode=2

I'm under the impression that whether you own a building vs rent a store or sell by the case vs bottle makes no difference as far as licensing is concerned; the licensing might differ when related to on-premise of off-site consumption - but the agency as far as liquor licensing will be the same.  (Health and Safety; and so forth for a restaurant/bar is usually separate).

View the form, contact them, and if it leads to another question, come back to me.

Eric