The Pennsylvania Malt Beverage Distributors want the state Supreme Court to review a recent lower-court ruling that allows beer to be sold in supermarkets, claiming that if the ruling stands it could lead to "beer sales almost anywhere."

"The sale of multiple six packs in grocery stores has never been the Pennsylvania model," Dave Shipula, president of the distributors group, said yesterday.

Last month, Commonwealth Court approved beer sales in restaurants run by the Wegman supermarket chain. The decision upheld license approvals by the state for Wegman stores in Williamsport and Bethlehem and perhaps other towns. The distributors group had sued to stop those licenses.

The distributors said the lower court decision could cause "the most substantial change in the manner and venue of beer sales in Pennsylvania since passage of the Liquor Code 70 plus years ago."

Besides Wegman stores, Mr. Shipula said other supermarkets, including Giant Eagle, Weis Markets and Whole Foods have filed beer sale applications. "And who knows what other big box stores may enter the beer market as well," he said.