For Pennsylvania, Prohibition Never Ended

It has been 94 years since the beginning of the nationwide prohibition on the production, distribution and sale of alcohol. Fortunately, states had the good sense to repeal the 18th Amendment, which proved disastrous. Yet in Pennsylvania, it’s like Prohibition never ended.

While almost every other state has been freed from the shackles of state-controlled liquor, Pennsylvania still remains stuck in the early 20th century. The state controls both the wholesale and retail side of wine and spirit sales, prohibiting entrepreneurs from opening up their own shops, which would give consumers more choice and convenience.  And the prohibitions don’t end there: The state regulates where and how much beer can be sold at restaurants, convenience stores, licensed beer shops and distributors. And the state prohibits shoppers from purchasing booze across state lines and bringing it back to Pennsylvania for consumption.

Despite bipartisan, majority support, Pennsylvania lawmakers have yet to get government out of the booze business largely because of government union lobbying and political spending against taxpayers’ interests. The worst part? Taxpayers are forced to pay for it all.

In addition to profiting from higher taxes and higher prices on government-sold wine and spirits, the United Food and Commercial Workers’ union (UFCW) uses taxpayer funds to collect union dues, fees and campaign contributions directly from employees’ paychecks—an exclusive legal privilege granted only to government unions.

Much of this political money is then used to lobby politicians and make campaign contributions to squash the very liquor privatization legislation that is supported by the majority of Pennsylvanians. Taxpayers are forced to collect money that is then used to fight against their interests

Given the forces working against taxpayers in the battle for liquor privatization, it is encouraging to see lawmakers resuming talks over removing the state from the liquor business to the consternation of its well-funded, politically privileged opponents. It’s time to end Prohibition completely and give taxpayers the full privatization they demand.