In desperate and anxious times under a nationwide state of emergency, the lack of a coherent and unified national policy has led to confusion and potential trouble, as neighboring state can have very different mandates regarding quarantine.

On Tuesday, March 17, Pennsylvania indefinitely closed all wine and liquor stores in hopes of reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Although Governor Wolf originally resisted closing them, he changed his mind after seeing how crowded many liquor stores became. Although this makes gaining hard alcohol difficult, Pennsylvania residents, 21 or older, can still purchase wine and beer at supermarkets. With restrictions, Pennsylvanians can also purchase hard alcohols online, though the process has been fraught with frustration.

For immediate supplies of hard alcohol, PA residents have to go elsewhere. Unsurprisingly, bordering states like New Jersey and West Virginia are seeing a spike in Pennsylvanian clientele at liquor stores, and in West Virginia’s case, gas stations, too. 

Around the same time Pennsylvania’s Governor closed state liquor stores, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice issued an executive order to temporarily allow the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration to have a to-go option for beer and wine sale at restaurants and bars. An article from 12 WBOY explains that this action would require the bottles to be completely sealed and closed before and throughout transport. This special request does not extend to liquor.

Due to the country’s state of emergency, Governor Justice saw this as an opportunity to provide small businesses with more sales since they had to close their dine-in option. Also, with more of a selection as to where West Virginians could purchase beer and wine, they theoretically would be more spread out among the locations instead of crowding a few stores — like what was taking place in Pennsylvania. 

All of this is to say that, at the beginning of the quarantine, West Virginia went in a different direction than Pennsylvania in regard to alcohol sales. With the lack of accessible wine and spirits stores, Pennsylvanians are scrambling to other states to stock up. 

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 interviewed Jody Kern, a Shop ‘n Save manager from Weirton, West Virginia. Kern told reporters, “It’s been crazy. It’s been extremely busy. A lot of new faces that we haven’t seen before.”

Although both states are under stay-at-home orders from their respective governors, Pennsylvanians are putting themselves and others in danger by crossing the state lines. West Virginia, the last state to have reported cases of COVID-19, has now set restrictions due to the constant influx of residents from states like Pennsylvania, where the number of cases is higher. MetroNews reported that Governor Justice closed popular overlooks that bring the state many tourists, like Coopers Rock and Blackwater Falls, as well as requiring that private campgrounds only be available to West Virginia residents.

The health concerns were so great that Monongalia County in West Virginia took the situation into their own hands. The county’s liquor stores are no longer able to sell their goods to anyone who does not have a West Virginia license. Also, residents are not able to purchase more than three bottles at a time. 

Needless to say, the COVID-19 has changed every aspect of life, but Gov. Wolf’s decision to close liquor stores has affected more than just Pennsylvanian adults.