New poll shows continued support for Pa. privitization of state liquor stores

Public support may be waning for a plan to sell off Pennsylvania’s wine and liquor stores.

Liquor privatization is the issue on the governor’s to-do list that is furthest along in the legislature.

But a new Franklin and Marshall College poll notes support for it has dropped by six points among surveyed voters since February.

The poll has a margin of eor of plus or minus about four percentage points.

Still, more respondents support privatization than oppose it.

Pollster Terry Madonna notes the results may prove to be the typical ebb and flow of public opinion while an issue is receiving a fierce amount of media and legislative attention.

“To some extent, we have a campaign now by both the supporters and the opponents of privatization and typically the group that feels threatened the most reacts with the most fury,” Madonna said.

The poll comes as the state Senate prepares for the second of three planned committee hearings on liquor privatization.

The first featured testimony from law enforcement groups, substance abuse service providers, and teenagers.

They all cautioned lawmakers about the potential social ills of making alcohol more easily accessible.