Pennsylvania’s governor is reportedly reconsidering his order closing Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s Fine Wine & Spirits stores, even as Denver’s mayor created panic buying by declaring all liquor stores would close in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Denver’s mayor reversed course later, saying liquor stores “with extreme physical distancing in place” are exempt from his order closing all nonessential businesses through April 10. Following his order, Denver residents swarmed their neighborhood liquor stores, with some stores reporting lines a block long 15 minutes after the mayor said liquor isn’t essential for everyone.
“The mayor said not to panic buy, but that is exactly what he encouraged people to do by shutting us down,” Josh Robinson, co-owner of Denver’s Argonaut Wine & Liquor told the Denver Post.
The mayor also said breweries had to close. But later in the day he clarified that breweries can continue to brew beer as long as they don’t sell directly to the public from their taprooms. (Comment: One has to wonder why they can do “drive-by” sales, just like bars and restaurants.)