Pennsylvania newcomers looking for beer or liquor in grocery or convenience stores soon learn that alcohol sales are strictly controlled in the Keystone State.

Consumers buy beer at distributors or at bottle shops, which are often attached to bars. Wegmans also now sells beer. Patrons must visit special state-run liquor stores, called “state stores,” or “Wine & Spirits” stores, for hard liquor, wine and other spirits.

There are more than 600 state stores in Pennsylvania, and they are listed in the blue pages of the phone book under the state government heading. They are also listed at www.lcb.state.pa.us in the “For Consumers” section.

• In the State College area: 1682 N. Atherton St.; Hamilton Square, 230 W. Hamilton Ave; Hills Plaza, 2051 S. Atherton St.; and Benner Pike Shops, 323 Benner Pike. The  North Atherton Street store is open Sunday afternoons.

• Bellefonte has one state store, at 114 N. Spring St.

• Snow Shoe has a state store at 15 W. Olive St. It is open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
The North Atherton Street store is a premium collection Wine & Spirits store, one of 70 in the state with an expanded collection of specialty products.

State law restricts the number of restaurant, eating place and distributor licenses to be issued within a municipality. The law does not affect hotels and clubs.

Roughly one restaurant or eating-place license is issued per 3,000 residents of any municipality. One distributor license is issued per 30,000 residents of any county. Bottle shops may sell malt or brewed beverages for consumption off the premises but in quantities not exceeding 192 fluid ounces in a single sale to one person.

The blood-alcohol level at which it is illegal to drive in Pennsylvania is 0.08 or higher, or 0.02 or higher for those who are younger than 21. Most first- and second-offense DUIs are now considered ungraded misdemeanors, meaning the accused has no right to a jury trial.

People younger than 21 who lie about their ages to obtain alcohol or who forge a driver’s license can, among other things, face suspension of their licenses, regardless of driving record. Violators younger than 16 convicted of underage drinking will have their sentences begin after their 16th birthdays.

Anyone younger than 21 who lies about his or her age to obtain alcohol can also face a maximum fine of $500.

Furnishing alcohol to someone younger than 21 carries a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for each additional offense.

Anyone who makes or sells false identification is also subject to fines of $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for each additional offense.