A long time ago, we were part of the push to abolish the PLCB and privatize the wine industry in Pennsylvania. This press conference was a big moment for us.
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai’s proposed legislation to privatize alcohol sales got a huge boost from former Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) chairman Jonathan Newman, who threw his support behind it at a Tuesday morning press conference.
The press conference was held at the Wine School of Philadelphia. The director of the Wine School, Keith Wallace, has worked towards a non-partisan legislation that would abolish the PLCB. He has worked with Newman and Turzai on this issue for over a year.
“The current system is antiquated – all anyone has to do is drive across the border to any of our neighboring states to see how out of touch the PLCB system is,” Newman said. “There is no doubt in my mind that due to the inherent problems with the system, there is a desperate need to privatize. Privatization will lead to greater convenience and better prices. It is time to stop burdening Pennsylvanians with this backwater system that dates back to Prohibition.”
Newman’s seven-year tenure as PLCB chairman was highlighted by the introduction of the Chairman’s Selections, where Newman would negotiate to buy large quantities of a particular wine at low prices and pass the savings onto Keystone State imbibers.