Gas station, convenience store owners push Pa. legislators to 'Free My Beer'

Louie Sheetz, executive vice president of the convenience stores that bear his last name, is urging residents to contact legislators in the chain's Free My Beer campaign.

If neighboring states can sell beer at gas stations, why not Pennsylvania?

Owners of gas stations and convenience stores hope legislators pass a liquor privatization bill this fall to make it a reality.

Louie Sheetz, executive vice president of the Altoona, Pa.-based chain of convenience stores that bear his last name, is urging Pennsylvanians to contact their legislators in the chain's Free My Beer campaign.

Of 234 Sheetz stores in Pennsylvania, its Altoona location is the only one permitted to sell beer, he said. He said five of his stores in neighboring states are actively selling beer and wine.

He called Pennsylvania's alcohol laws "a little bit outdated" but said he's encouraged by recent legislative action. In March, Republican state representatives along party lines approved Gov. Tom Corbett's liquor privatization plan, and state senators earlier this month amended the plan to lift the state ban on selling alcohol at gas stations.

"I'm encouraged because both the House and the Senate have shown through a vote that they would support beer sales reform," Sheetz said.

State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, voted against liquor privatization and said he doesn't support the sale of alcohol at gas stations. The current state system offers a reasonably priced, broader selection than a private system would, and the state makes money that would otherwise have to be raised by taxes.

"It just doesn't strike me as a good path to go down," Freeman said.

Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh/Monroe, said she prefers to maintain the ban on alcohol sales at gas stations and revisit the issue in the future.

When the federal government is trying to lower the legal driving threshold for blood-alcohol content, she said, it's not a good idea to permit the sale of beer at gas stations. The National Transportation Safety Board in May recommended lowering the legal driving limit from 0.08 to 0.05.

"It's ludicrous to me," Boscola said of the amendment Sheetz is pushing. "It sends a mixed message."

Gov. Tom Corbett in January proposed closing all Pennsylvania liquor stores and replacing them with twice as many private outlets, as well as expanding beer and wine sales. He said the change would generate an additional $1 billion in revenue over several years and that the money could be used for education.

Most of the revenue, a projected $575 million, would come from the sale of wholesale liquor licenses.

An additional $224 million is anticipated from the auctioning of 1,200 retail wine and liquor licenses by the state’s 67 counties, with 800 reserved for large stores and 400 for smaller ones. Those licensees would be required to set up separate stores to sell wine and liquor.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.