“Pennsylvania just banned alcohol sales.”

Communities around the country have tightened coronavirus restrictions as COVID-19 cases surge. But recent claims on social media that Pennsylvania is banning alcohol sales leave out some important details.

“Pennsylvania just banned alcohol sales,” one post says. “What does that have to do with the virus? It’s about control.”  

This overstates a recent rule the state imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19, and leads readers to believe that Pennsylvania has banned all alcohol sales. That’s wrong. People can’t drink at bars or restaurants on the day before Thanksgiving, but they can buy alcohol to take home and drink all they want. 

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Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Rachel Levine announced new coronavirus restrictions on Nov. 23, including banning the sale of some (but not all) alcohol on the day before Thanksgiving. 

Starting at 5 p.m. on Nov. 25 until 8 a.m. on Nov. 26, bars, restaurants and private catered events cannot sell alcohol for people to drink on site. 

Businesses can still sell alcohol, including cocktails, to go. Liquor stores can also sell alcohol during normal business hours. 

The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest nights of the year for the service industry, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, and many bar and restaurant owners were upset by this new mandate. 

Wolf warned about a heightened risk of infection through close contact as people drink together the night before a holiday. 

We rate this Facebook post Mostly False.