Remember back in December when the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board made 6-pack beer delivery legal in Pennsylvania? The PLCB has done it again. On March 6, it issued a legal advisory that allows brewers to sell “original containers” as long as they contain at least 128 ounces. In other words, you can now buy a 12-pack at a distributor.

Prior to this decision, distributors were only able to sell beer by the case or keg. If customers wanted to buy beer in smaller quantities, they would have to go to a grocery or convenience store that had the proper licensing and setup to sell such quantities of beer. The PLCB redefined the term “original container.” Instead of it meaning the container that holds the beer, it can now be interpreted as the cardboard box that holds the container that holds the beer, as long as it is the original packaging. This means distributors cannot just throw two six-packs together or break apart current cases. 12-packs must arrive prepackaged direct from the brewery.*

While it might seem like the best news in the world to many of us, there have been mixed opinions. According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, State Rep. Paul Costa, D-Wilkins and ranking minority party member of the House Liquor Control Committee said that the PLCB’s decision is “a step in the right direction to provide consumer convenience.” It’s beneficial to consumers because it gives them more options in their beer choices, and it supports our beloved Pennsylvania breweries.

On the other hand, the Brewers of Pennsylvania, a craft brewing trade association said the “PLCB’s decision serves up a competitive disadvantage that can be destructive to small businesses.” The disadvantage the Brewers of Pennsylvania mention is the ability to produce 15- or 18-packs, which would also be legal for distributors to sell. Many microbreweries are not equipped to manufacture cases of that size and would be at a disadvantage compared to the macro breweries that have the resources to produce such packaging. Bar owners were also unhappy with the PLCB’s decision. If you want to take a 12-pack home from a PA bar, you have to pay a per-bottle drink tax. This makes it significantly cheaper to buy from a distributor.

Because it has to be the original packaging and not just 12 bottles put in a box together, the only delay that is keeping distributors from selling 12-packs immediately is waiting for them to receive shipments from breweries. With that being said, you can expect to start seeing 12-packs at your local distributors soon!

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