Harrisburg-The Penn State Liquor Control Board's September decision to ration certain liquor sales is a factor in glass shortages, which remains a challenge for many businesses. A restaurant owner told state lawmakers on Monday, "No one can buy glass."

William Reed, the co-owner of Standard Tap and two other restaurants in Philadelphia, made the statement to the House Democratic Policy Committee during a hearing on the supply chain disruption.

Reid said his ability to work with breweries and distillers to produce unique products for his restaurants was limited.

"We can't actually bottle anything we are going to create," Reid said. "For more than a year, I have been told that there is still a shortage of glass."

In an interview, Lehigh Valley winery owner Kris Kwant said that due to shortages, his company Triple Sun Spirits had to find alternate suppliers and change the packaging configuration.

The same shortage was one of the various factors that led LCB to announce in mid-September that 43 products are selling two bottles a day.

On Tuesday, LCB spokesperson Shawn Kelly said the limit had been reduced to 37.

"We heard that some suppliers can't buy glass," he said of alcohol product manufacturers.

However, he said that the shortage of glass is just one of the "various reasons" for the continued existence of rationing. There are production problems unrelated to glass.

"I have also heard of a shortage of labels. They don't have enough paper to make labels," he said.

He said the agency is monitoring the situation and working to ensure that there are enough products for those who need it.

"This is beyond our control," Kelly said.

Ben Fileccia, director of operations and strategy at the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, said the LCB restrictions have had a significant impact on restaurants.

"Many of the bottles on the ration list are popular in bars and restaurants," Fileccia said.

These restrictions are based on a series of setbacks for the industry caused by COVID-19 and related mitigation measures (including mandatory closures).

Fileccia said he believes that the glass shortage is at least partly due to bottle manufacturers’ inability to use a certain type of sand in their manufacturing process.

Kwant said that his company owns a brewery in Emmaus and provides a "private label" service for restaurants in which alcoholic products used to package restaurant designs are distilled.

He said that other than that, "it is difficult for us to find growlers."

In response to the shortage, Triple Sun found alternate suppliers and sometimes changed the packaging configuration.

Kwant said he recently purchased 20,000 "aircraft bottles" designed to hold approximately 1.5 ounces of alcohol.

"They are hard to get," he said. "I could get the bottle once, but not the cap."

In Monday’s testimony, Reid told Democratic lawmakers that glass is just something restaurant owners are in short supply.

Reed, who is also the co-owner of Johnny Brenda's and International Bar, said that after the COVID-19 outbreak, his company had to change its point-of-sale system to accommodate takeaway-only sales.

"We are closed," he said. "As they said, we had to turn."

None of his restaurant's sales system can accept online orders, so they must be replaced. Now, he says, he finds it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain parts for the new system.

"Let's order a new terminal? You can't get it," Reid said. "You go order the touch screen? You can't get it. Everything is backlogged."

The Morning Call Congress Correspondent Fort Turner can be reached at fturner@mcall.com

The following items are still subject to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s sales limit of two bottles per customer per day:

1792 Chocolate Bourbon Ball Cream Liqueur, 34%, 750ml; Baker's Straight Bourbon Small Batch, 107 Proof, 750ml; Blanton's Single Barrel Straight Bourbon, 750ml; Bond and Lillard Pure Bourbon Whiskey, 100% Alcohol, 375 ml; Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 90%, 1 liter; and Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon, 90 alcohol, 750 ml.

Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon, 90 alcohol, 1.75 liters; Colonel EH Taylor Jr. Bond Straight Bourbon Small Batch Bottle, 100 Proof, 750ml; Dom Perignon Champagne, 750ml; Don Julio 1942 Tequila Anejo, 80%, 750ml; Eagle Rare Rare 10 Years Old Single Barrel Straight Bourbon, 750ml; Hennessy Cognac VS, 80%, 750 ml; Hennessy Cognac VS, 80%, 1 liter; Hennessy Cognac VS, 80%, 200 ml; Hennessy Cognac VS, 80%, 375 ml; Hennessy Cognac VS, 80% , 50 ml; Hennessy Cognac VS, 80 degrees, 1.75 liters.

Moet and Chandon Ice Emperor Champagne, 750 ml; Moet and Chandon Ice Emperor Champagne Rose, 750 ml; Moet and Chandon Imperial Champagne, 375 ml; Moet and Chandon Imperial Champagne Brut, 750 ml; Moet and Chandon Imperial Champagne Brut, 1.5 liters; Moet and Chandon Imperial Champagne, 187ml; Moet and Chandon Imperial Champagne Rose, 750ml.

Moet & Chandon Champagne Imperial Champagne Rose, 187 ml; Moet & Chandon Champagne Imperial Champagne, 750 ml; Moet & Chandon Champagne Imperial Champagne Rose, 750 ml; Moet and Chandon Imperial Champagne Rose, 375 ml; Moet & Chandon Champagne Imperial Champagne Rose, 187 ml; and Patron Tequila Silver, 80 alcohol, 750 ml.

Sazerac Pure Rye Whiskey, 90%, 750ml; Veuve Clicquot Champagne Rose, 750ml; Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne Brut, 1.5l; Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne, 750ml; Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne, 375ml; WB Saffell Straight Bourbon, 107 alcohol, 375 ml; and Weller Special Reserve Straight Bourbon, 90 alcohol, 750 ml.