Game changer, this.
Simply typing it out deadens the impact of the news, so here it is … We only hope you’re sitting down.
(Photo: Coal Region Canary)
Hoss’s in Cressona Adds BYOB Option
That’s right. The Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea restaurant in Cressona now lets you BYOB.
In all seriousness, was this responding to customer demands? Does offering BYOB actually promise to increase business at the popular chain restaurant?
Like pairing an aggressive zinfandel with Chilean sea bass, the idea of BYOB at Hoss’s sounds like madness.
But actually, it’s not.
Is BYOB a Good Idea? Even at Hoss’s?
According to OpenTable, BYOB (short for Bring Your Own Beer or Bring Your Own Booze) is a great option for restaurants that can’t afford or don’t want to go through the red tape of buying a liquor license, especially in Pennsylvania.
BYOB doesn’t allow restaurants to charge ridiculous markups on booze they sell, however. So there is a negative. But the money a customer might save from being allowed to bring their own alcohol to the dinner table might encourage them to spend more on their dinner.
And, it encourages people to dine out where they might not have in the past.
We actually found a hipster beer snob talking about enjoying one of his favorite beers at a Hoss’s that just added BYOB.
BYOB Rules and Tips
Here are some important rules and tips to keep in mind if you go to a BYOB restaurant, like Hoss’s:
Wine Must Be Purchased at a PA State Liquor Store
No bottles handed down over generations can be opened at BYOB establishments. If you’re in a Pennsylvania BYOB restaurant, the booze you bring must’ve been purchased at a “state store” and nowhere else.
Any Restaurant Can Be a BYOB, Just Check Before You Go
If you own a restaurant in Pennsylvania, patrons can bring their own alcohol if you allow it. Check with the restaurant you’re dining at to make sure they allow you to bring your own. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board adds that some local municipalities may have rules against BYOB restaurants. Again, double check with the place you’re going to make sure it’s OK.
Beware of Corkage Fees
Restaurants that offer BYOB but don’t sell their own alcohol normally won’t charge what’s known as a “corkage fee” but some do. You’re more likely to see this if a restaurant does have its own alcohol but it’s not good enough for you … or it’s too good. Corkage fees are basically a charge for the booze you bring in.
No Keg Stands
Just because you bring the booze, doesn’t mean it’s your place. Restaurants can still throw you out and tell you you’re cut if they think you’re a VIP, Visibly Intoxicated Person. And, of course, you can’t give the booze you bring to minors. And we’re going to think they’ll probably not allow any of this.
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