Brewster: COVID-19 Updates on Liquor Sales and Unemployment Compensation

Brewster: COVID-19 Updates on Liquor Sales and Unemployment Compensation

April 20, 2020

McKeesport – April 20, 2020 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today that the state has opened a new way to access wine and spirits and activated a website that allows independent contractors and gig workers to file for unemployment compensation.

Brewster serves as Democratic chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee.  The committee is responsible for law and policy changes related to the state’s liquor distribution system.  On Saturday evening, the state’s Liquor Control Board (LCB) announced that wine and spirits sales will be available for curbside pickup.

“The LCB has tried to increase access to wine and spirits as an initial step in re-engagement in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Brewster said.  “While not at full capacity, opening up curbside service is a positive move as we continue to social distance, protect our workers and our families.”

According to the LCB, there are restrictions associated with the curbside service.  These include:

  • Curbside pickup is available certain stores. Each store will take a limited number of orders by phone from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until the store reaches the maximum number of orders it can fulfill that day, Monday through Saturday, starting on Monday, April 20, 2020.
  • Curbside pickup orders will be limited to one order of no more than six bottles. Only one order will be accepted per caller, per store, per day. Callers will be guided by store staff through products available to purchase at each location.
  • Payment by credit card will be required by phone, and all curbside pickup sales are final (no returns).

The wine and spirit stores that will be open for curbside service in or near Brewster’s district include:

ALLEGHENY COUNTY

  • The Waterworks 974 Freeport Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 412-784-5800
  • Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #0227 3845 Northern Pike Monroeville, PA 15146 412-380-1308
  • Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #0245 330 E. Waterfront Drive Homestead, PA 15120 412-464-2574
  • Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #0284 Bill Green’s Shopping Center 10 Old Clairton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15236 412-650-8263
  • Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #9211 Village Square Mall 5000 Oxford Drive Bethel Park, PA 15102 412-851-0403

WESTMORELAND COUNTY

  • Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #6518 Norwin Hills Shopping Center 8775 Norwin Ave., Ste. 36 Irwin, PA 15642 724-861-4784
  • Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #6526 109 Blue Spruce Way Murrysville, PA 15668 724-519-7336

Curbside PickupBrewster said that the LCB has asked for patience if customers are unable to get through on phone when calling in an order.  He said the LCB is optimistic that orders can be filled, and the curbside pickup service will increase in the near future. 

Brewster provided a link were more information about the curbside pickup can be found: https://www.lcb.pa.gov/Consumers/Documents/Curbside%20Pickup%20Store%20List%2004182020.pdf

Brewster also said that in addition to the new curbside liquor distribution service, the state has also opened a portal for independent contractors and gig worker can file pandemic-related claims.  Under the federal CARES ACT, workers who had previously been ineligible for unemployment compensation are eligible to file claims. 

More information is available at https://www.uc.pa.gov/Pages/covid19.aspx under the CARES Act page.

-30-

 

Brewster Introduces Senate Democratic Liquor Modernization Plan

February 27, 2015

Harrisburg – Feb. 27, 2014 – Senate Democrats outlined their liquor modernization plan today, a day after the House of Representatives passed an ill-conceived privatization plan.

“No banker would back it and no business would implement it,” Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) sponsor of the Senate Democratic proposal said today about the House plan (House Bill 466). “The plan that passed the House takes the wrong approach at precisely the wrong time — it makes zero business sense and there are better alternatives.

“Under valuing a profitable asset and selling it off at fire-sale prices is no way to proceed.”

Brewster was vice-president of operations at Mellon Bank and has decades of experience in private business.

He said the modernization plan produced by Senate Democrats, introduced as Senate Bill 15, has the potential to produce an extra $150 million annually. The state’s liquor system generated $320 million in liquor taxes, $124 million in sales taxes and $80 million in net profits last year on more than $2.24 billion in sales.

The lawmaker said the Senate Democratic modernization plan would:

  • Remove the cap on the number of stores that can operate on Sunday and extend the permitted hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
  • Improve opportunities to partner with grocery stores to increase the number of stores-within-a-store;
  • Offer customer-service programs to improve customer experiences in stores;
  • Sell lottery tickets within wine & spirits stores;
  • Require final determinations on store lease arrangements within 90 days;
  • Join with other states on purchasing arrangements to help secure the very best price;
  • Fashion demand reforms such as allowing beer distributors to sell smaller quantities than cases, and permits for direct wine shipments to homes.

“We have a valued asset in our wine-and-spirits stores and they can be a tremendous resource for our taxpayers for years to come if we modernize and adapt,” Brewster said. “The last thing we should do is sell off an asset for a below-market price in an attempt to serve an ideological impulse.

“The Senate Democratic plan would improve convenience, create better access, provide service and delivery options while preserving thousands of jobs.”

The House-passed privatization plan, which involves selling 1,200 licenses, has been sold as a way of plugging the $2.3 billion budget hole created by the Republicans and former Gov. Tom Corbett. However, according to a Republican fiscal analysis, the plan will only raise a small portion of $2.3 billion in one-time revenue in 2015-16.

The House privatization plan passed 114-87. Gov. Tom Wolf has indicated his opposition to the plan.

-30-