Penn State Ceases Licensing of Shot Glasses

Official Penn State shot glasses will soon be relics.

The university confirmed this week that it has decided to stop licensing shot glasses that feature the words ‘Penn State’ or ‘any of our logos.’

‘That’s the only product we have decided to cease licensing for now,’ Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers wrote in an e-mail message. ‘The continued problems related to excessive drinking played a role in the decision.’

Detailed facts and figures about Penn State shot-glass sales were not immediately available from the university. An official who oversees licensing was away.

But Powers noted that ‘this is a phase-out, so we are not removing (shot glasses) from shelves.’ Rather, she wrote, Penn State is ‘not licensing new glasses, so it’ll be a while before there are no Penn State shot glasses available.’

In State College, Borough Council President Ron Filippelli said the university’s move was news to him. He said he welcomed the change.

‘I think it’s an excellent idea,’ Filippelli said. ‘I think anything the university can do to distance itself from the drinking culture is a positive step. And that seems to be what this is all about.’

An inquiry left with the Collegiate Licensing Company, a top trademark licensing and marketing group, was not immediately answered this week.

But on the local business level, a manager at McLanahan’s Student Store and Penn State Room said she understands that manufacturers may continue to produce Penn State shot glasses only through December.

Merchants, she said, will be able to continue selling the glasses until they run out of stock.

StateCollege.com will continue to follow this story and post more information as it becomes available.