PA Governor Celebrates Legalization of Canned Cocktails in Grocery Stores: 'Real Freedom Rings in Pennsylvania'

Beginning Monday, Pennsylvanians can purchase canned cocktails and hard seltzers from gas stations or grocery stores. Gov. Josh Shapiro called the legislation an advancement for "real freedom" in an X post.

Senate Bill 688 enables restaurants, bars, beer distributors, grocery stores and gas stations with alcohol licenses to apply for a special permit to carry "ready-to-drink" (RTD) cocktails. The permit application fee is $2,500.

Before the bi-partisan bill went into effect, only state-owned Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores could legally stock RTD cocktails.

Shapiro signed the bill in July, along with House Bill 829, which permits bars and restaurants to extend their happy hours. HB829 went into effect Friday.

Shapiro's X post echoed a sentiment he shared in August when the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced it would begin accepting applications for permits to distribute RTD cocktails. "This is what real freedom looks like," Shapiro said, "and we did it in a way that protects taxpayers and supports our state workers."

According to replies to Shapiro's Monday post on X, Pennsylvanians have different ideas of what freedom looks like. Several comments, including the most "liked" response, expressed more interested in legalizing cannabis.

According to an analysis from Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), tax revenue from RTD sales is expected to generate over $145 million in revenues over a five-year period.