PA Beer Battle

Sheetz is fighting for the right to sell beer. I would love to see PA beer rules changed. It is worse than the south.

HARRISBURG - Michael Cortez never dreamed he'd be heading to the highest court in the state over a six-pack of beer.

But the vice president and general counsel for Sheetz Inc. will do just that Wednesday when his central Pennsylvania convenience-store chain appears before the Supreme Court to resolve a dispute over where beer can be sold in the state.

The fundamental question: Does Pennsylvania's arcane and, some argue, outdated liquor code allow the company to sell six-packs to go at one of its stores in Altoona?

How the justices rule could affect where and how Pennsylvanians buy beer, long a sore point in a state where consumers complain that the six-pack is a rare sight on store shelves.

A ruling favorable to Sheetz could mean many more places to pick up a six-pack.