In Pennsylvania all the
liquor stores are
state-owned, the
bars must have a
liquor license (bars can only sell up to 2
six-packs to any one customer), and beer distributors are similarly licensed.
Yet there are some significant upsides. Since there are only a few distributors, there is a bigger niche for specialization in beer distribution. In many states most beer is sold in grocery or convenience stores; there are few true beer distributors. This makes it difficult (in those states) to find good beer (beer that is well-made and well-cared-for). In Pennsylvania there are a lot of distributors, and most of them are likely to have something good.
I can't help but think the liquor laws have something to do with Pennsylvania's microbrew situation, as well. As bitter_engineer alluded to, there are a lot of microbrews in Pennsylvania - including some of the oldest and some of the best on the eastern United States. If it were easier to buy liquor or bad beer, perhaps this would not be the case.