It was from God”™s lips ”“ okay, maybe Bacchus”™ ”“ to voters”™ ears, for many in Connecticut.
Only time will tell whether Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who has gotten his way on just about every other bill he has sent to the Connecticut General Assembly crammed full of his fellow Democrats, will be able to do the same in allowing alcohol sales on Sundays.
Malloy intends to recover the some $570 million in annual liquor sales he thinks is spilling across Connecticut”™s borders on Sundays. In other words, consider mom-and-pop package stores no longer a sacred cow.
In a recent poll, the Yankee Institute for Public Policy said state residents want Sunday liquor sales by a 2-1 majority. But to hear one state senator say it, liquor stores don”™t want a crack at that cash, preferring to hang a “closed” sign and enjoy their Sabbath repose.
“The argument that I hear from a lot of my mom-and-pop package stores that are in opposition to this,” said state Sen. John Kissel in testimony on the issue last year, “is that for a Stop and Shop or other large supermarket, all you have to do is roll up your curtain, and boom! There”™s the sales. Whereas the folks that are struggling in a family business may have to man that business from noon to 6, or noon to 7, or whatever time period they want to be open on Sunday.”
Understood. But for businesses constantly carping about perceived artificial constraints levied on them by state government, most of us have little use for arguments in favor of artifices that keep them in business ”“ Sunday prohibitions included.
We”™re guessing for the time being, anyway, some package stores will want to hire a weekend cashier and hang an “open” sign. On a website dubbed EndCTbluelaws.org, the Connecticut Food Association states alcohol sales rose 5 percent on average in the 14 states that lifted Sunday liquor sales bans of late, without specifying how much of that amount went to liquor stores versus grocery stores.
Our best guess is you”™ll soon be able to get a six-pack on a Sunday ”“ and at least in some cases at your neighborhood package store.
Cheers!
