The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board released its annual report for fiscal year 2022-23, showing McKean County’s alcohol purchases were up from the prior year.
According to the report, three counties — Allegheny, Philadelphia and Montgomery — accounted for 35% of statewide sales. Three counties had the largest percentage increases over that time frame, Clinton at 11.4%, Juniata at 9.8% and McKean at 9.4%.
Potter County had the biggest decrease — a whopping 53.75% less. Potter County purchased the least amount of alcohol in 2022-23 at $531,094, a big reduction from the year before, when it was $1,148,209.
The reason, however, likely has more to do with the loss of a liquor store in Coudersport than in folks deciding to give up alcohol. On Feb. 4, 2022, the state liquor store was damaged in the collapse of the roof of an adjacent building, and was closed. Customers were instead told to go to the liquor stores in Port Allegany in McKean County or Galeton in eastern Potter County.
That increase in customers in Port Allegany may have played a part in the increase in sales in McKean County.
The report noted the total sales for each county.
McKean County was in 45th place for total sales, at $5,287,273 for 2022-23. One year earlier, the total sales were at $4,834,421, which means the more current figures represent a 9.4% increase over the prior year. The county percentage of the total revenue is 0.21% — about $11,000.
Elk County is in 57th place for sales, with $3,216,528, up from $3,047,530 in 2021-22. That’s an increase of 5.55%. The county’s percentage is 0.13%, or about $4,000.
Cameron County is in 66th place with $545,991 in total sales, up 7.55% from 2021-22 when the total was $507,662.
Potter County’s share of its total revenue is 0.02%, or about $106.
Also noted in the report, whiskey was the favored beverage in all 67 counties in the state, with vodka coming in second. In McKean County, whiskey accounted for $1,642,780 in sales, while vodka was $855,711. In Elk County, whiskey had $982,644 in sales, while vodka was $472,695. In Cameron County, whiskey accounted for $181,683, while vodka came in at $76,612. In Potter County, whiskey sales were at $185,489, while vodka sales were at $76,348.
According to the report, California cabernet sauvignon was the top-selling wine category in McKean, Potter and Cameron counties, and beverage wine in Elk County. Unflavored vodka was the top spirit in McKean County, while Potter, Elk and Cameron counties favored American whiskey.
The top selling Pennsylvania wine sold by Fine Wines & Good Spirits stories in fiscal year 2022-23 was a local favorite — The Winery at Wilcox Clarion River Red. There were 31,399 units sold for $526,602.
The number of licenses in the counties are spelled out as well. In fiscal year 2022-23, there were 76 retail licenses in McKean County, 72 in Elk County, 29 in Potter County and 15 in Cameron County. For wholesale licenses, there were 8 in McKean, 6 in Elk, 5 in Potter and 1 in Cameron counties.
This report – and reports from previous years – are available at lcb.pa.gov.
The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates about 600 retail and wholesale sales locations statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits – totaling nearly $20.3 billion since the agency’s inception – are returned to Pennsylvania’s General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania’s schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services.
