Pennsylvania businesses will face Thanksgiving eve alcohol sales restriction amid COVID-19 crisis

A press release notes that "all sales or dispensing of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption at businesses in the retail food services industry, including bars, restaurants, and private catered events must end at 5 p.m."

By Alex Nitzberg

Published: November 23, 2020 10:16pm

Updated: November 23, 2020 10:59pm

Alcohol sales meant for in-person consumption will not be permitted in Pennsylvania on the night before Thanksgiving beginning at 5 p.m.

"To specifically address large crowds, on Nov. 25, 2020 only, all sales or dispensing of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption at businesses in the retail food services industry, including bars, restaurants, and private catered events must end at 5 p.m.," a press release notes.

The move comes as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's administration seeks to battle the COVID-19 crisis.

"In the past week, the number of COVID-19-attributable deaths has quadrupled, and the average daily case count is seven times higher than it was two months ago," the press release says.

According to Johns Hopkins University there have been more than 12 million coronavirus cases in the U.S. and more than 257,000 deaths.