Governor asks for overhaul of state’s alcohol laws

State Rep. Kathy Tallarita (D-58), flanked by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, announced a proposal to ‘update’ Connecticut's ‘blue laws’ at a press conference held at Enfield Town Hall. Courtesy photo.

The push to allow liquor sales on Sunday is making major headway in Connecticut due in part to significant support expressed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Malloy announced on Jan. 14 that in order to help Connecticut stay competitive with surrounding states, he will introduce legislation to update Connecticut’s “blue laws.”

Presently, alcohol is only sold until 9 p.m. and bars can only serve alcohol until 2 a.m. on weekends. The state does not allow alcohol sales on Sunday.

“These laws are outdated and they artificially increase the price of alcohol to Connecticut consumers,” said Malloy at a press conference held at Enfield Town Hall. “By allowing Sunday sales, by removing distribution and sale restrictions and by amending permit regulations, we’re going to help Connecticut regain its competitive edge in this industry, and we’re going to give consumers a break,” he said.

State Rep. Kathy Tallarita (D-58th District) has been a long-time supporter of such a change.

“It’s time to repeal the ban and allow Sunday liquor sales,” said Tallarita. “Our state will gain millions in new revenue from Sunday alcohol sales - revenue that is badly needed as we work towards digging ourselves out of a projected large deficit,” she said.
But, industry associations do not necessarily agree.

According to the Connecticut Package Stores Association, the proof is not there, and their stance is clearly expressed on their website.

“Additional days and hours of sale will not return revenue and instead spread sales out over seven days on what normally occurs over six days,” the association’s site says. They also continue to express concerns that the overhead associated with small stores staying open more hours will actually be detrimental to their costs. “Stores sell six days a week, 72 hours a week. If a person cannot obtain alcohol in this time, availability is not the problem,” it says.

“We are still analyzing the package of revisions and working with the governor’s office on the package,” said Josh Hughes, assistant executive director of the CPSA.

Others look at this proposed legislation as having some merit, but also presenting some concerns. State Sen. John Kissel (R-7th District) appeared on the Dan Lovallo radio show on 1360 AM and stated he felt that the legislation would probably not be passed in its present form. “I have mixed feelings,” Kissel said to Lovallo about the proposal, but agreed that Connecticut is behind “as far as other states go.”

Kissel also stated he is against the online gambling proposal Malloy has proposed. “I don’t want to see Connecticut turn into ‘Pottersville,’” said Kissel.

The proposed liquor sale legislation would:
-Allow for Sunday alcohol sales
-Allow package stores to be open on July 4, Memorial Day and Labor Day.
-Allow package stores to sell alcohol until 10 p.m.
-Allow restaurants and bars to stay open until 2 a.m.
-Allow beer-only permit holders to operate a separate package store
-Install a medallion system whereby existing stores will be able to expand their businesses or sell out to new owners so that the state will maintain a hand in the maximum number of permits obtained.

“As the years go by and other states modify their laws to reflect modern-day realities, our statutes have collected dust and it has resulted in consumers shopping in bordering states, causing Connecticut retailers to lose $570 million in sales each year to surrounding states by some industry estimates,” said Malloy. “This proposal is pro-consumer, pro-‘Mom and Pop’ and pro-dollars being spent within Connecticut.”