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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – Sunday liquor sales may finally come to Connecticut if Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has his way. The governor announced Saturday afternoon that he intends to introduce legislation updating state liquor laws that date to Prohibition.
“These laws are outdated and they artificially increase the price of alcohol to Connecticut consumers,” Malloy said in a statement. “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.”
The proposal would eliminate minimum pricing, which Malloy argues would lower costs for consumers. It would also allow the sale of alcohol not only on Sundays, but also on holidays and on Mondays that come after Sunday holidays.
Malloy said the goal is to keep Connecticut competitive with neighboring states that have modified their laws “to reflect modern-day realties.” Other than Connecticut, the only state in the country that bans Sunday sales of alcohol is Indiana, Malloy said.
“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 in the statement, calling his proposal “pro consumer,” “pro mom and pop” and “pro dollars being spent within the state.”
Connecticut voters said they supported Sunday alcohol sales in liquor stores, 56 percent to 39 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll on March 18, 2010. Men said they supported Sunday sales 62 percent to 33 percent, and women supported it 50 percent vs. 46 percent.
The Connecticut Package Stores Association has stated its opposition to repeal the Sunday ban and said the legislature would not allow it. “The majority of Connecticut’s legislators will not allow such a bill to pass, as has been the case for over 15 years,” according to its website. It also argued that additional hours of sale would not boost revenue but would only spread six days' worth of sales over seven days.
Comments (7)
This is Malloy's way of collecting more taxes. It isn't about prices being lowered which would never happen. Package stores and supermarkets wouldn't have a tremendous surge of sells on Sunday. How many of us are that desperate to shop on Sunday and not the day before.
Even if sales don't increase what is the objection? Hours of operation are presently set by the individual owners now so this doesn't change their right to do so. From a consumer standpoint anything that makes shopping easier and cheaper by removing state control over pricing count me in. There is no reason the government should be involved in dictating hours of operation or pricing. Prohibition ended long ago and there are enough other restrictions regarding # of establishments in any town, # of establishments that can be owned by one party (2 currently). Right now a store cannot legally sell below its cost so they offer no loss leaders. Why not let the market dictate? If people don't want to shop for beer or wine, or alcohol on Sunday then don't but why force that on others?
It seems the solution would be to make Sunday sales and later hours optional. Those stores that see the value in adding Sunday will stay open and those that don't can close. Likewise on the proposal to allow later retail sales and bars to close later each night. Supply and demand would then dictate what makes sense for each establishment and who survives in the long run.
If package stores banded together and refused to open on Sunday you can be assured that the state would haul them in to court charging collusion, restraint of trade, etc. Besides if a small operator wants to stayed closed on Sunday, do you really thing that the big boys (Stew Leonard, warehouse clubs, etc) would close, too? Not going to happen.
If Malloy's big worry is mythical numbers of dollars going over the border on Sundays then why not allow CT liquor stores within 10 miles of the border to be open...all others continue to be closed?
Terrible idea...it will kill many Mom & Pops. All it will do is spread six days of sales over seven days while also raising costs. Folks in CT know to buy their beverage alcohol supplies during the six available days. Outside of a rare unexpected company drops in for a BBQ and "Darn, we're out of beer" situation what is the problem???
Do not believe his highly inflated numbers for how much revenue this will generate for the state! Typical politician---look to put more money in government's coffers by raising the cost of doing business on others.
Are we to believe that CT, with a population of 3.5 million, spends $10 million every Sunday buying alcohol in bordering states? I doubt it.
Makes much sense. The only downside to consider is how Mom and Pop stores would see this. There is something to be said for a day off.