Boozy Groundhog Day Facts You Probably Don’t Know

Are you having a drink to celebrate Groundhog Day? This unique Pennsylvania holiday is more connected to the PA alcohol industry than you might think. Here are some fun boozy facts about Pennsylvania’s favorite prognosticator.

Punxsutawney Phil and Prohibition

Punxsutawney Phil is 135 years old, and he’s apparently known to appreciate a drink especially his yearly sip of elixir that has kept him alive so long (there’s no evidence of what that elixir is made of). According to VisitPA.com, Phil was apparently was so upset by Prohibition that he suggested there would be 60 more weeks of winter (instead of the typical 6) if he couldn’t have an alcoholic beverage on his big day. We can only assume Phil must have gotten his drink because we did not experience an extraordinarily long winter between 1920 to 1933.

Groundhog Day and the PA Liquor Code

Special considerations have continued to be made for Punxsutawney Phil. According to the PA liquor license code, restaurants and hotels can only serve alcohol on Sunday with a special permit (Sunday sales permit) for a limited set of hours starting at 9 a.m. at the earliest. However, if Groundhog Day occurs on Sunday, hotels and restaurants in PA can start serving alcohol at 7 a.m. even if you don’t have a permit. It’s written right into PA Act 39.

This fact is just a taste of how complex the PA Liquor License code is. Learn more about the Types of Liquor Licenses.

Punxsutawney Phil’s Favorite Drinks

Punxsutawney Phil has also has partnered with several PA companies to produce some special licensed drinks. In 2021, Pittsburgh area Wigle Whiskey released Phil’s Shadow in conjunction with the Groundhog Club, a limited-edition rye whiskey finished in maple syrup barrels. Phil’s Burrow Rum Raisin Cider is also a 2021 release by Pittsburgh’s Threadbare Cider. Penn Brewery also has a Punxsutawney Philsner available since 2016.

 

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