Pennsylvania liquor law is a complicated compilation of statutes, regulations, advisory opinions and case law. This cocktail of laws produces a retail distribution scheme that remains confusing to the Pennsylvania consumer and flat-out headshaking to visitors to the commonwealth. There have been dramatic changes over the last decade that have promoted consumer conveniences, but the vestiges of Prohibition remain in our retail system. Just a decade ago, a consumer wanting to buy a bottle of wine, a case of beer and a specialty six-pack, had to visit three different retail locations to achieve their goal. Fast forward to present, at least now they only have to go to two stores. While progress has been made, it has been slow and now has seemingly stalled. Some outlets have advanced more than others.

The Pennsylvania beer distributor is a unique retail outlet that years ago was limited to selling cases and kegs of beer, sodas, tobacco and various snack items to-go along with other limited beer-related items. In the last decade, Pennsylvania distributors made the most progress in their ability to service the Pennsylvania consumer; however, its progress begs the question of why these licenses are not extended into other retail outlets. In the last decade, the Pennsylvania beer distributor has shed many restrictions and now can sell single bottles and growlers of beer, cider, mead and fermented fruit beverages, albeit for "to-go" only sales. In a 2017 legal opinion, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board extended the common understanding of a "growler" to include a plastic cup with a lid on and tape over the straw hole. This has allowed distributors to fill single-serve draft beer to-go and the fast-growing segment known as "beer slushies."