Call this a modest proposal. Sen. Mike Regan wants to make it legal for liquor licensees including grocery stores, convenience stores, beer distributors, restaurants and bars to begin selling ready-to-drink spirits-based cocktails for on-premise consumption. Why stop there?
I don’t know why they don’t just allow all alcoholic beverages to be sold in unlimited quantities in any stores. While they are at it, they can allow such sales at turnpike service plazas. Think of all the taxes they could collect on such sales.
Why, this should be a win-win for the Republicans: more money for state coffers while claiming not to raise taxes, and more “freedom” for their freedom-without-responsibility loving supporters. They could even take a clue from Germany where you can buy beer in resealable bottles in Autobahn service plazas. To do this they would have to ignore the fact that Germany has a much lower incidence of homicide by vehicle while DUI than the good ol’ USA, but what is a few deaths when there is money to be made and freedom to be had?
All kidding aside, any of the proposals to allow liquor to go or for consumption on the premises of other than full scale restaurants should be conditioned on the DUI rate in Pennsylvania remaining constant. There should be automatic repeals if, after enacting such legislation, there is a significant rise in DUI rates. Otherwise the legislature is simply authorizing an increase in DUI injuries and deaths for the sake of money.
Mike Schnierle, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
