We’ve all watched sadly as one restaurant after another in Lansdowne has closed its doors or moved on to another location. A liquor license affords a restaurant the ability to provide its patrons a more complete dining experience. In a particularly busy establishment or one with live music/entertainment, a liquor license allows patrons to enjoy a few drinks while waiting for a table or listening to the music. For the average restaurant, the margins on food hover around 20-30 percent. The profit margin on alcohol can be as high as 60 percent. A liquor license can increase check averages by at least 25 percent.

Online review sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google, and others play a significant role in the success of a restaurant. Positive reviews are crucial to small businesses. Consumers love to review the newest craft beer or wine, leading to more review stars. Some say that not having a liquor license weakens the complete dining experience, often leading to negative reviews and forcing patrons to seek someplace else to spend their money. Furthermore, if there is a group of friends that want to go out to dinner, and one person wants a beer with his steak, a restaurant without a liquor license will lose out on the entire group.

Craft beer and spirits are dominating the alcohol industry (we’re experiencing this at our own farmers market), and many consumers want to see this trend reflected in restaurants. “With current alcohol trends leaning toward new taste experiences like craft spirits, craft beers, and cask-strength whiskeys, having a liquor license enhances the sit-down component of a restaurant,” says Richard Bantock, President of Liquor License Consultants, Inc. Having a liquor license allows restaurants to take advantage of these current trends to drive sales and increase revenue.
Restaurants bring people to town, locals and visitors. In today’s highly competitive market, not having a liquor license puts restaurants at risk of falling behind their competitors in neighboring “wet” towns. Drinks sell, and the profits from alcohol sales can make or break a business, especially for new restaurants struggling to see a profit. A rising tide lifts all boats and the success of our restaurants will mean increased patronage (and success) to neighboring businesses.

Various data points indicate that Lansdowne is ready for change. Demographics have evolved over the last decade as more people are moving to urban areas with town centers. Based on surveys conducted by the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation and the Lansdowne Business and Professionals Association, 80% of those polled said they would support a referendum allowing restaurants to sell beer, wine, and spirits. In 2015, 85% of those voting on the referendum to allow a special entertainment license for the Lansdowne Theater voted in favor of liquor reform.

Anyone registered to vote in Lansdowne, regardless of party affiliation, can vote on the referendum in the primary election to be held May 21, 2019.

Passage of the referendum question would permit the sale of beer, wine, and spirits by the glass in licensed restaurants, hotels, and clubs. It would also allow the sale of beer (and possibly wine) for carry-out by licensed restaurants and hotels and the sale of beer (and possibly wine) for carry-out by licensed grocery stores. Licensed establishments also need to comply with zoning, use, health, and other codes and regulations.

The PLCB limits the number of licenses per municipality to 1 license for 3,000 residents. That means that Lansdowne could only have 3 liquor licenses. (The special license to be obtained by the Lansdowne Theater is not included.)

The pool of available licenses is managed at the county level and based on overall county population. Currently, all licenses in Delaware County have been allocated to private holders. In other words, the PLCB has no additional licenses to issue, auction, or allocate. A new and/or existing Lansdowne business interested in obtaining a license would need to purchase one from a Delaware County license holder or transfer one from another Delaware County location (all purchases or transfers are subject to approval by the PLCB). Prices for such licenses are determined by overall supply and demand in the market. As of December 2016 a standard restaurant license costs nearly $200,000.

No. There are no “bar” licenses in Pennsylvania. Any establishment that sells beer, wine, and spirits for consumption on premises must be licensed as a restaurant, meaning that it has the ability to prepare and serve food for a minimum of 30 people, as well as have seating for at least 30 people.

No. Pennsylvania law allows referenda questions regarding liquor sales to be placed on the ballot not more than once every four years. If Lansdowne residents feel the change is not successful or is, in fact, detrimental, the process could be repeated and undone in 2023.