In Heaven there is no beer, which means it must be under the control of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The state's antedeluvian liquor laws no longer serve their original purpose -- to limit alcohol consumption as a fallback to the ideal of outright Prohibition. Instead, they protect monopolies enjoyed by businesses with a piece of the liquor pie. Witness the
bill making its way through the legislature in Harrisburg that would open the market of sale of six packs and cases to supermarkets and convenience stores. The opposition comes from Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania, which represents more than 450 beer distributors. They are the folks with the monopoly on selling cases. Sen. John Rafferty of Montgomery County, chief sponsor of the bill to open up beer sales, says he is optimistic that his bill will prevail. If it does, it will be a first -- similar measures have failed in the past.
