Alcohol regulations in Pennsylvania

Licences needed

PLCB Limited Distillery License (AL) or Distillery License (A), Federal TTB Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) Basic Permit, and Pennsylvania Department of Revenue sales and corporate tax registrations.

Authority

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), Bureau of Licensing

Documents

TTB DSP Basic Permit, premises lease or deed, detailed architectural/floor plan drawings, criminal history record checks for all principals, corporate formation documents, financial verification disclosures, and tax clearance certificates.

Fees

$700 initial filing fee, $1,500 annual license fee, plus $22 per individual background check fee (for Limited Distillery). Commercial Distillery requires a $700 filing fee and higher variable annual fees.

Time to obtain

90 to 180 days

Who can import

Pennsylvania is an Alcoholic Beverage Control (monopoly) state. Distilled spirits may only be imported by the PLCB itself or by entities holding a PLCB Importer License (I). Out-of-state and foreign distillers wishing to sell spirits into Pennsylvania must obtain a PLCB Vendor's Permit to sell to the PLCB.

Licences or registrations

PLCB Importer's License (I) or PLCB Vendor's Permit (for out-of-state suppliers)

Authority

PLCB Bureau of Licensing and Bureau of Product Selection

Documents

Federal TTB Importer/Basic Permit, corporate disclosures, PLCB Vendor Registration form, PA Department of Revenue tax clearance, and product listing documentation.

Fees

Vendor's Permit: $965 initial fee ($265 permit fee plus $700 filing fee); $295 annual renewal. Registered Agent / Broker Permit: $65 annually. Listing proposal fee: $150 per item/size.

Time to obtain

60 to 90 days

Required

yes

Process

Spirits products must first receive a Federal Certificate of Label Approval (TTB COLA). In Pennsylvania, products must be registered and accepted by the PLCB through the PLCB Supplier Portal for regular listing or the Special Liquor Order (SLO) program. Additionally, vendors must submit case labels to the PLCB Shipping Container Code (SCC) / Labeling Coordinator for approval at least 45 days prior to shipment.

Authority

PLCB Bureau of Product Selection and TTB

Documents and samples

Federal TTB COLA approval, label PDFs (retail and SCC case labels), product specifications, UPC/GTIN barcode documentation, and pricing proposals; physical product samples if requested for listing review.

Fees

$150 listing proposal fee per item, per size.

Renewal

Vendor permit renewed annually ($295); listed products remain active contingent on meeting PLCB minimum sales and performance thresholds.

Time to obtain

Case and label approvals take 10 to 15 business days; formal PLCB listing determinations take 60 to 90 days.

The PLCB maintains a statutory monopoly on the importation and wholesale distribution of distilled spirits. All spirits entering Pennsylvania must be consigned to the PLCB or routed through its designated bailment warehouse network, or processed via an approved Special Liquor Order (SLO) for delivery to PLCB stores or licensed importers. Direct commercial importation by private retailers or consumers is illegal. Cases must bear PLCB-compliant Shipping Container Code (SCC) barcode labels.

Spirits duties are levied exclusively at the federal level by U.S. Customs and Border Protection under Chapter 2208 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), ranging from duty-free to specific rates per proof liter depending on spirit category and country of origin. Pennsylvania imposes no separate state customs tariff.

Spirits are subject to: (1) An 18% Pennsylvania Emergency Liquor Tax (the 'Johnstown Flood Tax') applied to the PLCB sales price including federal tax and markup; (2) PLCB standard commercial markup (typically ~30% to 40% plus handling/logistics factors); (3) 6% Commonwealth sales tax collected at retail (plus local add-ons: 2% in Philadelphia for an 8% total, 1% in Allegheny County for a 7% total); and (4) local drink-by-the-glass taxes on on-premise pours (10% in Philadelphia, 7% in Allegheny County).

Spirits off-premise sales are a state monopoly conducted primarily through PLCB 'Fine Wine & Good Spirits' stores and state-licensed in-state limited distilleries. Private retail off-premise sale of standard high-proof spirits bottles is prohibited. Exception under Act 86 of 2024: licensed restaurants, hotels, grocery/convenience stores, and beer distributors holding a Ready-to-Drink Cocktail (RTDC) permit may sell pre-packaged spirits-based canned cocktails (up to 16 oz, maximum 12.5% ABV) for off-premise consumption. On-premise spirits sales are conducted by licensed restaurants, hotels, and bars (Restaurant 'R' or Hotel 'H' licenses, governed by statutory population quotas). State stores typically operate Mon–Sat 9:00 AM to 9:00/10:00 PM and Sun 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM; on-premise sales permitted 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM Mon–Sat (and Sun with permit).

Restricted. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) interstate shipping of distilled spirits to Pennsylvania consumers is illegal. Consumers can purchase spirits online only via the PLCB's official website (finewineandgoodspirits.com) for home delivery or state-store pickup, or via the Special Liquor Order (SLO) system. In-state licensed limited distilleries may ship directly to Pennsylvania residents within the state. Out-of-state DTC shipping is permitted exclusively for wine (Direct Wine Shipper) and malt beverages (Direct Malt Beverage Shipper), not spirits.

Must comply with 27 CFR Part 5 federal requirements (brand name, class/type, ABV %, net contents, name and address of bottler/importer, standard federal health warning statement in English). For cases delivered to the PLCB, strict state-level case labeling rules require minimum 4x6 inch labels displaying the PA item number, Shipping Container Code (SCC/GTIN) barcode, UPC, product description, and freshness dates where applicable.

Regulated under Title 40 of the Pennsylvania Code. Advertising may not target minors, depict intoxication or unlawful acts, or make false/therapeutic claims. Retail price advertising is permitted. Tied-house rules prohibit suppliers and distributors from providing cooperative advertising, kickbacks, exterior sign subsidies, or equipment inducements to retail licensees.

Pennsylvania adopts federal standards under 27 CFR Part 5 (e.g., minimum 40% ABV / 80 proof for vodka, rum, gin, and whisky). Under Pennsylvania Act 86 of 2024, Ready-to-Drink Cocktails (RTDCs) are legally defined under the Liquor Code (47 P.S. § 1-102) as pre-mixed drinks containing distilled liquor and other non-alcoholic ingredients, packaged by the manufacturer in containers of up to 16 ounces, with alcohol by volume between 0.5% and 12.5%.

Permitted via local option referendums under Section 472 of Title 47. As of 2025–2026, approximately 675 of Pennsylvania's 2,560 municipalities are entirely or partially dry, prohibiting either retail spirits sales, state liquor stores, or certain classes of on-premise licenses.

• Enactment of Act 86 of 2024 (effective September 16, 2024), permitting restaurants, hotels, grocery/convenience stores, and beer distributors with an RTDC permit to sell spirits-based ready-to-drink canned cocktails up to 16 oz and 12.5% ABV for off-premises consumption.
• Enactment of Act 57 of 2024 expanding retail licensee happy hour flexibility and permitting combined food and drink package promotions.
• Implementation of mandatory minimum pricing rules and PLCB supplier purchase guidelines for ready-to-drink cocktail products across Pennsylvania retailers and manufacturers.

Foreign and out-of-state distillers can access Pennsylvania's high-volume market through PLCB central listing tenders or the Special Liquor Order (SLO) program upon obtaining a PLCB Vendor's Permit. Additionally, producers of spirits-based RTD canned cocktails (up to 12.5% ABV) benefit from a significantly broadened distribution channel across thousands of private retail stores under Act 86.

• Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB)
• Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE)
• Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
• Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) [Federal]

1. PLCB License and Permit Fees Schedule
2. PLCB Advisory on Act 86 of 2024 - Ready-to-Drink Cocktails
3. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 47 - Liquor Code
4. PLCB Shipping Container Code and Case Labeling Requirements
5. Wine Institute Wholesale Laws - Pennsylvania Vendor Permits