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There could be a cap on happy hour in Ohio as the state faces supply-chain issues, making some liquors more scarce and forcing bars and restaurants to compete with one another to meet demands.
The problems mean that restrictions could come into place. The Buckeye State’s eastward neighbor, Pennsylvania, set two-bottles-per-day purchase limits on 43 items. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board confirmed that the restrictions would remain in place until further notice, according to Columbus-based NBC4 on Monday (September 20). Officials say the supply-chain issues are happening “everywhere.”
“The states cannot actually access the product — it’s not just the restaurant and bars. So if the state or the wholesaler doesn’t have access to those products because of supply-chain interruption, then the end-game and end result is that your retailers and your restaurant tours will not have access to the product either,” Victor Spotloe of Middle West Spirits told NBC4, also warning that price may go up. “A lot of this is being driven by supply-chain interruption, whether it’s access to glass or cardboard, whether it’s access to cork, grain, or even material, literally impacting everything from New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to French Champagne, to whiskey, scotch, tequila…and brandy.”
It’s not the first time a liquor shortage has rocked Ohio. News 5 Cleveland reported in July that the nationwide shortage was impacting restaurants and bars in the state’s northeast region. Owners of nearby liquor stores noted that the alcohol shortage is not like the dreaded toilet paper shortage at the start of the pandemic last year. Still, the owner of B2’s Bourbon & BBQ in Richmond Heights told News 5 Cleveland this summer that customers tried to bring their own bottles when the restaurant was out of stock: “I’ve never seen it like this.”