Why are there So Many Different Types of PLCB Licenses and Permits?

3/16/2020
In those rare, quiet moments when you’re able to sit for a moment to think about your business, have you ever wondered how many license and permit types there are under the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) authority? Well, don’t. Just don’t go down that road. The landscape is labyrinthine, teeming with large, overarching groups of predominant license types, with smaller licenses hanging out back. Peeking around the corner are permits for special situations and - if you don’t know you need them - they could easily be overlooked. It’s no wonder there are law firms with specialized teams led by attorneys with decades of experience dedicated to liquor license issues, and entire brokerages specializing in the complexities of liquor license transactions. You actually might just need a law degree or decades of experience in the PA alcohol business to understand this stuff. So, why? Why is the landscape so busy?


Turnover in the Alcohol Service and Sales Industry and What You Can Do About It

3/9/2020
In the alcohol service and sales industry, turnover can seem like a never-ending battle. You spend time (and money) to hire and train, and then before you know it, your employee(s) put in their two weeks -if they even do that. What gives? Why does turnover happen in the first place, is it always a bad thing, and what can you do about it? Turns out there can be a wide variety of reasons for high turnover - not all of them bad - and there are many things you as an owner/operator can do to both keep it to a minimum, hold onto your people, and grow your staff and your business.

Why You Should Care about Quality RAMP Training for your Team

3/2/2020
You own or operate an alcohol establishment in Pennsylvania. You know about RAMP training. So, what’s the big deal? Get it done, maintain compliance, and get on with it, right? Well, not exactly. You also know what it means to abide by the rules set forth in the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB’s) regulations, and you might have even had a run-in with the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE). How does navigating this complex landscape tie back to training? There are big differences in the quality of training (and the results!) offered by different providers - training that stands between your business operating profitably, in compliance with the law, and infractions that chip away at your bottom line and may even cost you your license. Training is where your choices can make or break your business.

Top Ten Reasons You Need a New RAMP Training Provider

2/24/2020
When you own or operate an alcohol establishment in Pennsylvania, you know it can be a really rewarding venture, but risky, too. You know the Liquor Code, you know the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) policies and procedures (enough of them to stay in business anyways), and you know the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE) is out there enforcing the rules. Hopefully you haven’t had to learn the hard way that you need to follow those rules - for all the right reasons: the safety of your establishment, your staff, and your customers, as well as the public safety. So, you probably also know that training is a critical element to operating safely, staying compliant and legal, and most importantly - staying open for business! But you still might have questions, like how important is training, really? How can a training provider improve my business? What can a different training provider really do? Why does it even matter so much? Let’s take a look.

PLCB Recordkeeping Rules & Best Practices

2/17/2020
Let’s just cut to the chase here. Nobody (well, maybe an elite few) likes to talk about recordkeeping, paperwork, regulatory rules for documentation, etc. It’s boring and tedious but can actually get you in a lot of trouble if it’s not done right. Recordkeeping is totally necessary. We’d be lost without it; in any industry - but especially in the highly regulated alcohol industry. And that’s a good thing, when you think about it. You want your business, your employees, your patrons, and the public to stay safe, so you have to keep track of things like receipts, invoices, inventory, and perhaps most importantly, legally mandated training records. Let’s take a look at why accurate recordkeeping is so important to governing bodies, the public, and you.


Is Online or Classroom Training Better for Your RAMP Server/Sellers?

2/10/2020
RAMP Server/Seller training in Pennsylvania is mandatory for any and all “alcohol personnel” - which the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) defines alcohol personnel as “any employee of a licensee such as a bartender, waiter whose primary responsibility includes the resale, furnishing or serving of liquor or malt or brewed beverages. It also means any employee, such as a doorperson, whose primary responsibility is to ascertain the age of individuals who are attempting to enter the licensed premises.” We also know that this doesn’t just apply to licensed establishments that serve and/or sell on or off premises, but also to distributors, wholesalers, brewers, etc. So, now that we know all of these employees need training, what’s the best way to train them?