According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board temporarily set aside a plan to increase handling fees paid by wine and spirits manufacturers. The handling fee increase was to start in January, but the LCB announced that they will be holding off on the increase until June 30th.
The fees would mean an additional charge of about $1-$1.50 per bottle on wines and spirits sold at hundreds of state-owned liquor stores. It also would have resulted in higher prices of drinks in bars and restaurants. The LCB also said that during this six month moratorium, it will not approve any price increases by the makers of products sold in its stores.
“Their action today, it’s got to be applauded,” said Kevin Joyce, owner of The Carlton restaurant Downtown and past president of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association. “We’re very happy. It’s a big win.”
