"I think this is far-reaching legislation, it's fair legislation and we'll work hard to see it move through the General Assembly," Rafferty told a rally arranged with grocery and convenience store groups.
The theme of the rally in the Capitol Rotunda revolved around a revolution, since that's what it might take to change Pennsylvania's beer law.
Since at least the early 1980s, there have been efforts to broaden the places where people can buy six-packs in Pennsylvania. Those efforts have all failed due to opposition by the taverns, distributors or anyone else worried about such a change.
In the last two-year legislative session, Rafferty's bill to allow distributorships to sell six-packs and bars and restaurants to sell cases collapsed amid feuding between taverns, distributors, brewers and others.
This version may be no different. Distributors are poised to oppose Rafferty's legislation, saying the additional competition from big retailers such as Wal-Mart and Wegmans will put them out of business.
"If they were all selling beer, I'm sure it would affect my business," said David Shipula, the owner of Beer Super in Wilkes-Barre and president of the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania.
Rafferty insisted his bill would not put them out of business. They also could sell six-packs, and it would increase the market value of the state-issued liquor licenses that distributors, bars and restaurants can buy and sell to each other, he said.
A prominent player at Tuesday's rally was convenience store operator Sheetz Inc., which last year was denied the ability by the state Supreme Court to sell six-packs without having an eating area in the store that also serves beer.
The court's June ruling firmly limited six-pack sales to places that serve food and allow beer to be consumed on premises, requirements that an increasing number of grocery stores and supermarkets are finding ways to meet in order to sell six-packs.
Many of the dozens of people lining the marble staircase behind Rafferty were Sheetz employees, and company president Stan Sheetz showed up to question why Pennsylvania harbors such strange beer laws when Sheetz stores in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina all sell beer.
Besides, Rafferty's proposed legislation would bring down beer prices for consumers, he said.
"It treats adults like adults and it protects the rights of beer drinkers," he said.
