A bill under consideration in the Pennsylvania House Liquor Control Committee would allow same-day delivery companies to transport alcohol to customers.
In 37 states, delivery drivers working for companies such as DoorDash and Instacart can deliver alcohol. Pennsylvania is not currently among those states.
Tom Kerr, general counsel for the Adult Beverage Alliance, told lawmakers the model is working elsewhere and provides Pennsylvania businesses the opportunity to benefit from an industry operating in more than 30 states.
During a committee hearing Wednesday, Alex Mooney, speaking on behalf of DoorDash, said smaller businesses in states that allow alcohol delivery have seen sales increase 40% year over year. He said alcohol deliveries on the app rose 55% in 2025.
About 500 businesses in Pennsylvania currently hold licenses to deliver beer and wine, including wholesale distributors and retailers such as Sheetz. Existing law allows delivery but includes strict limitations.
The proposed legislation would create a new “transporter-for-hire” license category, permitting companies to deliver wine, beer and canned cocktails through same-day delivery apps.
Robert Bailey, bureau director for Liquor Control Enforcement, said authorities are concerned about potential unintended consequences, including underage access to alcohol. He said identification-scanning technology may not prevent access because of sophisticated counterfeit IDs and reduced scrutiny in matching customers to identification.
The bill would impose fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for violations, with second offenses up to $7,000. Bailey said the penalties could serve as a deterrent but noted the state lacks authority to prevent violators from continuing to operate.
