State police issue 21 warnings related to COVID-19 regulations: police

More than 1,200 businesses with liquor licenses were checked this week to see if they were in compliance with required COVID-19 mitigation efforts, resulting in 21 new warnings and one citation, state police said Wednesday.

Among the mitigation efforts required are social distancing, mask-wearing and other health and safety requirements that are in the liquor code.

A Wilkes-Barre area establishment received the only citation while five warnings were issued to businesses in that regional office.

The Pittsburgh area received seven warnings, the most warnings in the state for this round of checks. The Williamsport area tied for second with five warnings issued.

The Philadelphia area had two warnings issued and Erie and Punxsuatawny areas both had one warning each.

Harrisburg, Altoona and Allentown all had no warnings issued during this round of checks.

When citations are issued, it is a civil administrative citation, according to state police. It is “intended to provide licensed liquor establishments notification of the nature of violation(s) discovered,” police said.

Continued violations could put the establishment’s liquor license at risk.

The investigation remains open, pending review by the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.

Compliance checks are done unannounced, but police said they are focusing on areas experiencing higher COVID-19 transmission rates.

Businesses and employees in the restaruant and retail food service industroy that are authorized to conduct in-person activities are ordered to:

• Require all customers to wear masks while entering, exiting or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail food service business (face masks may be removed while seated). Further, employees are required to wear masks at all times.
• Provide at least six feet between parties at tables or physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back.
• Ensure maximum occupancy limits for indoor and outdoor areas are posted and enforced.

Complaints regarding licensees not complying with COVID-19 mitigation mandates may be directed to the BLCE at 1-800-932-0602 or reported through the BLCE’s online complaint form.