Pennsylvania is making a historic change to its liquor code, and it’s all about convenience. Act 86 of 2024 now allows for ready-to-drink cocktails to be sold for off-premise consumption with the appropriate permit. This is exciting news for fans of convenient, pre-mixed drinks like High Noon and White Claw’s new vodka-based beverages.
A permit is needed
To sell these ready-to-drink cocktails, businesses will need to acquire a new permit. The initial application fee is $2,500, with a 2% fee on renewals.
Who's eligible?
Retail licensees (that can currently sell liquor) and Wholesale licenses; yes, that means you distributors.
This is not the same as mixed drinks to-go during COVID.
Unlike the mixed cocktails to-go during the COVID-19 era, these ready-to-drink cocktails must be pre-manufactured and sealed by the manufacturer. You won’t find homemade margaritas with stickers over straw holes here—only professionally made and unaltered drinks will be available.
There will be hour and quantity restrictions.
These changes mean you’ll soon see canned cocktails at grocery stores with restaurant liquor licenses, gas stations, and other licensed venues. Retailers can sell these drinks until 11 PM daily, except on Sundays. Distributors have until 9 PM. Retail licenses will have a cap on the total amount sold per transaction, similar to beer and seltzer sales, capped at 192 ounces.Distributors will be allowed them to sell these canned cocktails in any quantity.
Launch date is soon- need to knows
The official launch date for these ready-to-drink cocktails is September 15th, so mark your calendars! However, remember that you can’t start selling these drinks immediately if you’re a licensee. You must apply for the permit and get approved first, and you’ll need transactional scan devices similar to those used for wine expanded permits.