Wolf Seeks To Waive Liquor License Fees To Aid Bars, Restaurants

PITTSBURGH, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced a plan to waive liquor license fees to provide financial relief to restaurants and bars facing significant financial problems because of the coronavirus outbreak.

At the popular Pittsburgh restaurant Le Mont, Wolf said he is working with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to waive standard licensing fees through 2021 starting Jan. 1. The relief effort would amount to about $20 million and impact 16,000 establishements.

"My administration continues to look for innovative ways that we can support the bar and restaurant industry," Wolf said. "Eliminating liquor license fees is an important step toward helping bars and restaurants retain the capital they need to weather the storm of COVID-19.”

The governor's announcement comes two days after the state House failed to override his veto of a bill that would have lessened coronavirus occupancy restrictions on bars and restaurants. The bill not becoming law is a devastating blow to the long-term survival of the state's restaurant industry, the head of the association said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The House on Tuesday fell two votes short in the effort to override Wolf's veto. In a 133-69 vote, the House upheld the veto. Two thirds of the House — 135 votes — were needed for the override.
The bill would have allowed restaurants to operate at 50 percent capacity, as well as permitting restaurants to operate above 50 percent capacity if following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or if they had physical barriers.

The governor on Thursday also said he supports the federal Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to SurviveAct. The bipartisan bill in Congress provides $120 billion to help independent restaurants with the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.