Readshaw Bill Takes on Liquor License Transfers

State Rep. Harry A. Readshaw, whose 36th Legislative District includes parts of Baldwin and Whitehall boroughs, has introduced House Bill 262, which would allow local municipalities to control the number and type of liquor license establishments located in a specific community.

Current law only limits liquor licenses on a countywide level.

"Under my bill, municipalities would have the right to control the number of these establishments, not the state," Readshaw said in a news release. "Local communities are better judges of the needs and abuses of alcohol on a more personal level.

"While I have heard numerous complaints about bars in the South Side, this bill would give all communities an avenue to say enough is enough."

(Readshaw's district includes most of South Side, as well.)

The bill would allow a municipality to establish a liquor license maximum saturation ratio, which could be community-wide, or neighborhood- or district-based, according to the release.

The bill would also make it harder to transfer liquor licenses between municipalities if one of those municipalities has established a maximum saturation ratio and the transfer would exceed that pre-established ratio.

Readshaw introduced a similar bill, H.B. 353, in the Pennsylvania's House last session, but it was not considered by the House Liquor Control Committee.

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