Phillies fans are crying in their beer this morning.

But look on the bright side. At some point in the near future, when the next Philly team does an el foldo and you feel the need to imbibe, you could pick up that six-pack at your neighborhood beer distributor.
That would be a radical change for the Keystone State.

For all you teetotalers out there, let me try to explain.

Pennsylvania has a particularly arcane way of selling alcohol, beer included.

If you want wine or liquor, you must visit one of the "state" stores that sell those items. But they won’t sell you beer. For that you must visit your neighborhood beer distributor. But only if you want a case. That can’t sell you a six-pack. If you want to grab a quick six, you need to head to your local deli or tavern. And take your wallet. You’re likely going to pay through the nose for that privilege.

If you’re in the supermarket or convenience and are thinking about picking up some booze while you’re there, forget it. You can’t buy beer or alcohol there, unless you happen to be in one of the supermarkets where there is a state store inside. They’re few and far between.

All this galls a lot of Pennsylvanians to no end, especially when we visit other states and see how easy it is to get what we want – and enjoy responsibly – at any number of locations.

In the checkout line of the supermarket and want to grab a quick six? No problem? Want to buy beer and wine in the same place? They’ve got your covered.

Now it appears there may be a sliver of light at the end of Pennsylvania’s arcane tunnel of alcohol sales.

On Wednesday a Senate committee approved a bill that would expand the spots where you can buy beer. Simply put, those beer distributors that can now only sell beer by the case could offer you a six-pack.

Tavern owners likely aren’t going to be happy about this. So there’s something in it for them, too. They would be allowed to sell as many as three six-packs at a time, up from the current limit of two.

It still has to be approved by the full Senate and then make it through the House, but it’s a start.

Is it the end of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and turning over alcohol sales to private enterprise? No, but it’s a start.

And the way the Phillies played yesterday, it can’t come fast enough.