State to waive liquor license fees for 2021

Governor says savings will help bars, restaurants

CORONAVIRUS

Gov. Tom Wolf announced a plan Thursday to waive liquor license fees for restaurants and bars in what he described as an effort to help them deal with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we enter the anticipated fall resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the very contagious nature of this virus makes gathering indoors publicly at full capacity dangerous,” Wolf said in his announcement of the move. “Still, we know that restaurant and bar owners in Pennsylvania are committed to keeping their employees and customers safe and the vast majority of these businesses have followed safety precautions and invested in new procedures and supplies, but COVID continues to hurt this industry.

“My administration continues to look for innovative ways that we can support the bar and restaurant industry. Eliminating liquor license fees is an important step toward helping bars and restaurants retain the capital they need to weather the storm of COVID-19.”

The governor said he is working with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to waive standard licensing fees through 2021 starting Jan. 1. More than 16,000 Pennsylvania restaurants and bars, clubs, catering clubs and hotels would see $20 million in relief.

Wolf’s announcement comes in the wake of Tuesday’s failed attempt by the state House of Representatives to override his veto of a bill that called for loosening COVID-19-related restrictions on restaurants and bars.

The governor has been under fire from the restaurant and bar industry and from lawmakers for limits on crowd sizes and required early closing times for establishments that serve alcohol, among other restrictions. Many in the industry say that they’re struggling to stay in business under the current rules.

Wolf argued that the bill would have endangered public health and safety by allowing restaurants to open up to full capacity without regard for state and federal COVID-19 mitigation guidelines.

In a statement, Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, said the license fee waiver wasn’t nearly enough.

“While licensing fee help is part of the solution, much more needs to be done, particularly considering the size of the industry and its role in the Pennsylvania economy,” he said. “We would have liked to have seen a comprehensive package promoted by the governor.”

The group has called for the state to provide the industry with grants, a higher discount on liquor purchases and tax relief. It wants the governor to allow customer seating at bars, alcohol service until midnight and without an accompanying order of food.

A spokesman for the state House Republican caucus dismissed Wolf’s move as a half-measure that won’t provide immediate help.