PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- A new poll by Terry Madonna
 Opinion Research shows that most Pennsylvanians view easier access to
 carryout beer, as in supermarkets, as leading to an "increase in the rates
 of underage drinking or other alcohol-related problems."
     The survey, involving 772 Pennsylvania adults interviewed in September,
 was conducted for the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of
 Pennsylvania.
     A total of 54.6 percent of those interviewed saw beer in supermarkets
 leading to more alcohol-related problems while an even larger percentage --
 62.7 percent -- believed that Pennsylvania's more than 1,300 existing
 retail malt beverage distributors "provide a sufficient selection of
 imported and domestic beers."
     David Shipula, president of the beer distributors' group, said the
 consumer responses underscored two of the strengths of the current state
 beer sales system: wide consumer choices and strong restrictions against
 sales to minors.
     Dr. G. Terry Madonna, President of Terry Madonna Opinion Research,
 noted that an even higher percentage of respondents -- 71.2 percent -- want
 to allow retail beer distributors to be able to sell beer in smaller
 quantities than the current legal purchase of a case of 24 bottles or cans.
     "Statewide, people were pretty evenly split over suggestions that we
 expand the retail sale of beer into supermarkets and convenience stores
 with 48.9 percent opposed versus 47.9 percent favoring," Madonna said.
     Shipula said, "The poll underscores what consumers have been telling
 our members all along, that the state-sanctioned system of beer sales works
 well with people being able to buy 12 or fewer cans or bottles for off
 premises consumption from some 11,000 bar and deli licensees and quantities
 of a case and larger from some 1,300 retail distributors. If anything, they
 find it strange that they can't buy less than a case from a beer specialty
 store."
     Legislation has been proposed in Harrisburg to change several aspects
 of the current system ranging from allowing retail distributors to sell in
 less than case quantities to allowing bars and delicatessens, and by
 extension, supermarkets and convenience store/gas stations, to sell up to
 18 cans or bottles for off premises consumption.
     "People who want to change the law say they are acting on behalf of the
 consumers but this poll shows that the public wants a system with adequate
 protections -- something that we do have now," Shipula said. "The consumer
 also realizes that specialty stores -- and that's what beer distributors
 are -- tend to carry larger variety and selection of the product than
 general stores like supermarkets and convenience stores where shelf space
 is at such a premium that companies must pay 'slotting allowances' for the
 privilege of having the store stock their brands."
     NOTE: The above represents some of the findings of a survey of 772
 Pennsylvania adults conducted during September 2007. The survey was
 designed by Terry Madonna Opinion Research on behalf of various sponsors
 and the interviewing was conducted by Dynamic Marketing Research Associates
 of Easton, Maryland. The sample error for the total sample is plus or minus
 3.5 percent. Telephone numbers for the survey were generated via random
 digit dialing. Respondents were selected from within each household. The
 final sample was weighted to correct for differential probabilities of
 selection and non- response.
 
 

SOURCE Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania