By Sen. Jarrett Coleman
Everyone remembers a local business in their town that was shut down due to the COVID pandemic, while the big box stores were allowed to remain open. The local paint store, the flower shop, the small clothes retailer. Based on government “logic” but no actual evidence they were spreading COVID, many bars offering light food options were closed, but restaurants were allowed to stay open and sell alcohol.
During the pandemic, Pennsylvania had the second highest percentage in the country of businesses forced to close by government action, with 30% shuttered statewide compared to 19% nationally. While bar and restaurant traffic has shown a strong recovery, more of it is now lower margin take-out and delivery, and workforce and inflationary pressures continue to challenge the industry.
Today, many small businesses are still facing threats of fines and closure five years after the onset of the pandemic. Unbelievably, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) continues to punish license holders for violations of COVID restrictions that occurred in 2020. In some cases, owners are required to sell their liquor licenses, effectively putting them out of business. Meanwhile, all enforcement action against restaurants without liquor licenses that did not follow COVID rules have been dropped.
Recently, in Adams County, a local bar and grill had its liquor license suspended due to citations dating back to 2020. In January 2025, the bar owner was informed by the PLCB that their license would be suspended for 45 days, restricting them from selling alcohol. The reason for this suspension was COVID mask violations from 2020 and 2021.
Last year, a pub owner in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, decided to give in and pay a fine after two years of appeals because the PLCB held up his liquor license. After paying the fine, the owner was finally able to complete an online renewal for the license. He had received the fine for keeping his pub open for willing patrons in December 2020 in violation of the governor’s emergency restrictions.
During Senate Budget Committee hearings last year, the PLCB chairman at the time, Tim Holden, confirmed that the board was using the license renewal process to ensure that license holders faced “consequences” for COVID-related infractions. These consequences have included the issuance of conditional licenses, which come with higher insurance premiums and the required sale of a liquor license. Typically, such penalties are applied to businesses that have regular nuisance issues such as underage drinking or excessive noise.
Business owners of all types were put in an impossible situation during the pandemic—abide by overreaching government dictates or lose their customers and livelihoods—and it’s time for the PLCB to move on.
That’s why I have introduced legislation, Senate Bill 241, to expunge COVID-related citations from the record of liquor license holders. Pennsylvania businesses suffered enough during COVID and continuing to punish them today or in the future isn’t in anyone’s best interest.
Let’s put wrong-headed COVID policies behind us and stop persecuting Pennsylvania’s small business owners. It’s time to end the PLCB’s practice of holding liquor licenses hostage over COVID-related violations. I’m thankful my bill recently passed out of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, but I won’t rest until it receives the governor’s signature.
Jarrett Coleman serves as a Pennsylvania senator representing the 16th District, which includes parts of Bucks and Lehigh counties.