A legal battle brewing in Pennsylvania's Supreme Court could leave state beer distributors with a massive hangover.
The case, recently accepted by the state's high court, could open the door for six-pack sales in supermarkets and convenience stores.
Sheetz, a gas station and convenience store chain located mostly in central Pennsylvania, is appealing a lower court's decision that would stop it from selling beer.
In 2004, the chain's Altoona store took advantage of antiquated liquor laws that allowed establishments to sell beer solely for take-out if they provided seating and food.
And the decision, if in Sheetz' favor, would allow other supermarkets and convenience stores to take advantage of the same laws and provide more options for students - something that College sophomore Robert Wise would welcome.
"Beer distributors shouldn't have a monopoly," he said. "It's ridiculous that stores can't sell beer along with other items."
But local beer shops argue that opening up the liquor business to supermarkets would cut deeply into their profits.
"You'd be taking away money from the small businesses and giving it to the big supermarket corporations," said Souling Lim of University City Beverage, located at 43rd and Walnut streets. "That's not right. A lot of families have put their time and money into this business, and they can't compete with big chains."
Amy Christie, executive director of the Pennsylvania Tavern Association, added that the variety of brands would diminish as supermarkets would give shelf space to national companies.
The Malt Beverages Distributors Association of Pennsylvania, which brought the suit against Sheetz, has argued that the license issued by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board requires stores to allow on-premise consumption.
Sheetz "used a loophole in the regulations to convert themselves into beer distributors without following the regulations," said Mary Lou Hogan, Executive Secretary of the Association.
Sheetz, on the other hand, believes that they should be allowed to prevent people from drinking on the premises.
"We never intended to have people drinking in the store," Sheetz spokeswoman Monica Jones said. "The type of liquor license we have allows for on-premise [beer] consumption but does not mandate" it.
In February, a lower court decided in favor of the Malt Beverage Association, but PLCB, which has sided with Sheetz, appealed.
With hearings yet to be scheduled, the court could take over a year to decide, Hogan said.
Meanwhile, the Sheetz in Altoona will continue selling beer to its customers.
"Certainly, other convenience stores [are] interested in the outcome of this case," Jones said. "That's part of why we're fighting this battle."
