PA Starts Process of Ending State Liquor Monopoly

Welcome to the free world

HARRISBURG — A belief in free markets pushed Roger Howard out his southern Chester County home early Monday. He wanted to be make it to Harrisburg, 70 miles away, by 7 a.m.

He was there to see if Pennsylvania is getting out of the liquor businesses.

"I don't believe in central control," said Howard, a member of the Coalition for Advancing Freedom citizen group.

Howard was one of more than 100 Pennsylvanians who filled the hallway in the Irvis Office Building on Monday morning. Whether for or against liquor privatization, they wanted to see what was about to happen – and they wanted a seat. They had to wait, though. The meeting didn't begin until 11 a.m.