LCB to vote on price hikes for wines, liquors

HARRISBURG - The state Liquor Control Board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to approve an increase in prices on more than 450 wines and hard liquor brands. The increases, requested by the vendors of the alcoholic beverages, are usually proposed for either $1 and $2, but go as low as 50 cents and as high as $5.

If the board votes in favor of the increase, it would mark the first time in a year and a half that wine and liquor prices have gone up. In that time, the board has rejected requests for hikes, given the bad economy.

The board's three members gave no clues Tuesday as to how they might vote on the proposed increases.

Generally, vendors have the ability four times a year to ask the LCB to raise prices on their products, said Stacey Witalec, the board's spokeswoman. The price hikes now being requested would generate a $5 million annual return for the state, state officials said. - Angela Couloumbis