HARRISBURG, Pa., March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania municipalities received $2.2 million in licensing fees collected on their behalf and approved by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board during a six-month period that ended Jan. 31.

Under the Liquor Code, fees are collected whenever a liquor license application, renewal or validation is submitted, according to Patrick J. "P.J." Stapleton III, chairman of the Liquor Control Board. Once approved, the money is distributed to the municipality in which the licensee is located to help defray the cost of local law enforcement. Funds are distributed twice a year.

"The $2.2 million recently distributed by the Liquor Control Board went to municipalities in 66 of the 67 counties," Stapleton said, adding that the largest distribution was $1 million to the City of Philadelphia.

"License fees are based on the type of license and the population of the municipality in which it is located," said Jerry W. Waters Sr., director of the Liquor Control Board's Office of Regulatory Affairs, which oversees the regulation of almost 20,000 liquor licensees and permitees statewide, including restaurants, clubs and beer distributors.

To maintain the privilege of selling alcohol, licensees and permitees are required by Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to renew or validate their licenses annually.

Established in 1933, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol and also operates 620 Wine & Spirits Stores. The Board reported sales of more than $1.8 billion in fiscal 2008-09 and a return of $494.5 million in taxes and profits to the state's General Fund, helping to pay the cost of essential services such as education, health care, infrastructure and public safety.

Media contact: Nick Hays or Francesca Chapman, 717-783-8864.

Editor's note: A list of municipalities receiving fee distributions is available from the Liquor Control Board Press Office at 717-783-8864.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

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