ELECTIONS

Bottoms up! Voters in 3 central Pennsylvania communities say 'yes' to alcohol

Teresa Boeckel
York Daily Record

Voters in three municipalities in central Pennsylvania overwhelmingly have chosen to allow alcohol sales in their communities.

A referendum, asking voters if they favor the granting of liquor licenses in their municipality, was on the ballot in Tuesday's election. Unofficial results show:  

  • St. Thomas Township in Franklin County: 1,633 yes; 726 no
  • South Annville Township in Lebanon County: 1,427 yes; 622 no
  • Loganville borough in York County: 522 yes; 214 no

All three municipalities have prohibited the sale of retail liquor and beer since the 1930s, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. In 1995, St. Thomas Township did allow national veterans clubs to start selling liquor.

Rutter's is interested in obtaining a liquor license for its convenience stores in the three municipalities, said Alison Hummel, a spokeswoman for the company. 

Election 2020: Three communities in central Pennsylvania look to allow alcohol sales

The company did not directly seek the referendum but supported giving communities the opportunity to vote on whether to allow the sale of beer and wine. 

"At Rutter’s, we always try to give our customers what they want, in a convenient way. Once customers saw stores in other areas of the state selling beer and wine, they asked us why they couldn’t do the same at their local store," Hummel said recently. "Therefore, we support our communities in this effort to purchase beer and wine conveniently."

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One license per 3,000 residents is the municipal quota, according to the state Liquor Control Board.

All three counties are at or above their quotas for liquor licenses, spokesman Shawn Kelly said. Establishments in the municipality would have to transfer in an existing license from elsewhere in the county. 

Rutter's hopes to begin offering beer and wine in eligible stores next year, Hummel said.