Philly Beer Gardens

Thanks for posting this. Signed!

 

We can thank Joe Sixpack--our local beer writer--for bringing this shit to the PA legislators attention.

 

I find it amusing that her whole "there are more important things to get worked up over" rant is directed at the populus pissed about the threat to beer gardens rather than the politicians--who in theory are elected to take care of the "more important things"--that are targeting the beer gardens. It's just journalistic shouting for attention.

 

For those that didn't see his column last week:
http://www.philly.com/philly/column...p_gardens_take_advantage_of_LCB_loophole.html

 

New update article on Philly.Com this morning has a link to the petition, so that should increase numbers.
http://mobile.philly.com/blogs/?wss=/philly/blogs/the-insider/&id=268555852

 

If there really is a lot of popular support for the pop-ups, and if prior experience is a guide, that email campaign by Taylor's staff will backfire with many more people becoming aware of what is happening than would have otherwise. Then among those thinking it’s a good idea there will be an increased circulation both in Tayor's districit and to friends and families in other districts. Kind of like an airborne infections disease where one sneeze....

Then there are reactions such as this to spread the word:

http://philly.thedrinknation.com/ar...-Grubbing-Democrats-Over-Beer-Garden-Brouhaha

 

Found out about this through another BA not this thread, but signed nonetheless. Let's save our "grave concerns" for things like the education budget.

I cannot love the one comment more: "Your last articles have been about: Kittens, Horses, and Legos. Aren't there bigger things to report on?"

I think that article's author fails to realize that part of the reason people are making relativistic comparisons is because the legislator's are themselves referring to something relatively minor as a "grave concern".

 

Beer, the great bi-partisan issue to unite the people!

 

Given that the PLCB doesn't make the rules and only interprets what they are given by the State Legislature there might even be bigger fish he's looking at frying or may wind up frying as a side effect.

Lots of BAs and beer people in NY state were pretty unhappy with Shelton Bros a year or so back when they filed a law suit over some issues related to differences in how breweries and importers were being taxed by the state. Lots of folks were moaning about doom and gloom for the tax breaks enjoyed by the breweries and were pretty upset with Shelton Bros. But lo and behold the end result was a change in legislation to both level the playing field and to relax some restrictions on how breweries were allowed to do things thereby improving the business climate for small breweries.

 

Plus there are more allies/supporters out there than many may realize. The University City District has had a pop-up beer garden on the Porch at 30th Street Station at least two years running after the city (or somebody) invested large amounts of money in "renovating" the area along one side the Station to make it more pedestrian/people friendly. They also use the Porch for a lot of other activities which seem to draw a fair number of people to enjoy the area. Not a lot of green but a huge amount of seating and it appears to have been good for business, etc.

 

He was pretty hard on the PLCB back when those Philly bars were ridiculously raided back in 2010. Most of his articles links are now dead, but this one is still active: http://articles.philly.com/2010-03-09/news/24957244_1_beer-scene-rolling-rock-breweries

 

WHYY's Newsworks did a more in-depth report on this issue. http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/...p-up-beer-gardens-in-philly-stirring-brouhaha

Although I support the idea and signed the petition there is more to this issue that could be worth debating. Pop-up beer gardens are being granted catering licenses which can span weeks or even months. For $500 a "caterer" can supply alcohol at up to 50 events. A restaurant or bar owner on the other hand has to spend ~$100,000 for their liquor license. As nice as these pop-up beer gardens are there is a potential for abuse. If I was a restaurant/bar owner who shelled out for a license and then a pop-up beer garden set-up shop down the street and became my competitor for a measly $500, I think I'd be annoyed. Personally, I think all of PA's liquor control laws need an complete overhaul and a lot of deregulation, but it's the system we have now and it should be fair to those who try to work within it.

 

Thanks for the link. That's the first I recollect seeing there are two types, licensed and "permit." That explains a couple of things that had been puzzling me.

 

QUOTE="HRamz3, post: 2630244, member: 425708"]Noothing is preventing a bar owner from purchasing the "caterer" permit and having their own beer garden.[/QUOTE]
That's not the issue at all. The bar owner's $100,000 license would already cover having a beer garden or serving outside if they wanted, assuming they have the space on their property. The problem is the state is setting very inequal business requirements for two competitors. The bar owner has to pay ~$100,000 per liquor license versus a pop-up beer garden under the temporary catering permit $500 for up to 50 days. For a measly $2500 per year the caterer could could keep renewing their permit for 250 days of the year and will be competing with the bar owner for the same customers. Besides, it doesn't exactly sound like a typical "catering" operation if it never moves anywhere.

I'll be the first one to say that PA's liquor laws are long overdue for a overhaul. My only hope is that maybe this disparity will help push the PLCB/state to reforms.