PLCB sees record income and sales in most recent fiscal year

After months of coronavirus-related shutdowns, Pennsylvanians apparently needed a drink. 

According to a new report released Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the state saw record net income from liquor sales in the most recent fiscal year, with $2.91 billion in sales when factoring in liquor and sales taxes. The figure marks a 13.7% increase from the previous fiscal year and the largest yearly sales increase in the board’s history.

During that period, which ran from July 1, 2020 to Jun 30, 2021, the PLCB also recorded a 26.4% increase in retail sales at Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores from the prior year. The $2.73 billion in liquor sales in the 2020-21 fiscal year, which excludes taxes, included the following: 

• $1.58 billion in regular spirits sales
• $901.9 million in regular wine sales
• $74.6 million in luxury wine sales
• $68.7 million in chairman’s programs
• $67.2 million in special orders
• $18.6 million in luxury spirits
• $16.8 million in e-commerce sales
• $1.58 billion in regular spirits

E-commerce sales was one area where the PLCB saw a drop-off from the previous fiscal year, which the board attributed to COVID-19-related store closures experienced in early 2020. The PLCB reported $16.8 million in e-commerce sales, compared to $26.8 million in e-commerce sales in the 2019-20 fiscal year. 

Allegheny, Philadelphia and Montgomery counties made up more than a third of the state’s liquor sales in the most recent fiscal year, with 34.6% of statewide sales coming from those three counties.

The full PLCB report can be found here.