New Florence voters to decide if post-Prohibition alcohol ban is lifted

When Becky Richey and her husband opened C&T’s Pizza in New Florence a quarter-century ago, it never occurred to them that their customers couldn’t enjoy a cold brew with their meal.

A referendum on Tuesday’s primary election ballot pitched by Richey could give her thirsty patrons another drink option by allowing alcohol sales within the small town of about 640 residents in the northeast corner of Westmoreland County.

“I have had so many people come in and ask if they can buy beer with their pizza, and I have to tell them it’s a dry town,” Richey said.

New Florence voters Tuesday will answer the question: “Do you favor the granting of liquor licenses for the sale of liquor in the Borough of New Florence?”

New Florence Council President Jason Beatty organized a petition drive that collected 93 signatures of registered voters, six more than was required, to have the referendum placed on the ballot. Beatty said Richey lobbied for the vote.

“It needs to happen,” Beasley said. “We’re one of four municipalities left in the county that’s dry. The town has missed out on quite a few things.”

The New Florence Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7622 is just across the borough line in Seward.

The town’s volunteer fire department routinely hosts events and could benefit from alcohol sales. Its two restaurants are not permitted to serve alcohol, limiting potential customers and future growth, Beasley said.

Along with New Florence, small Westmoreland County towns of Hunker and Madison, along with Washington Township, outlaw alcohol sales.

According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, alcohol sales were legalized in every town after Prohibition in the United States was lifted in 1933.

Towns in the years that followed had to actively vote to ban those sales. New Florence banned retail liquor sales in 1934 and a year later retail beer sales.

Hunker council President Pat Brigode said small borough of about 300 residents has never in recent memory discussed its status as a dry community. Madison, a town of less than 400, hasn’t taken up the issue either, according to borough secretary Cheryl Hale.

The state says that as of January, 677 of Pennsylvania’s 2,560 municipalities have laws in place that limit and prohibit alcohol sales.

“This has been tried in the past,” Beasley said of the alcohol referendum in New Florence. “The last time it was put on the ballot in 2009 it lost by single-digit votes. It was also tried in the 1980s.”

There are fewer than 500 registered voters in New Florence and all are eligible to cast votes on the referendum.

Officials are urging residents to vote even though there are few contested races in the Republican and Democratic primaries and none involving local borough offices.

If passed, there’s no guarantee the taps will flow anytime soon in New Florence. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control board, according to its website, has no alcohol sale licenses available in Westmoreland County. As of January, there were 576 licenses issued in the county, exceeding the state’s quota.

The PLCB said no new licenses will be issued in towns that vote to lift alcohol sale bans in counties that reached the license limit, which is based on population and area. Businesses seeking to sell booze or beer must purchase an existing license, the agency said.

That’s what New Florence business owners face if the voters decide to life the alcohol sale ban.

Richey said she is cautiously optimistic the “yes” votes to allow alcohol sales will win out.

“I think people had the wrong idea before that there would be people walking in the streets drinking,” Richey said. “That’s an old mindset. I seriously think they will go for it this time.”