End Connecticut Blue Laws Campaign Launched to End State’s Antiquated Ban On Sunday Sales of Beer, Wine & Spirits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sunday sale of beer, wine, and spirits will increase convenience for consumers and generate up to $8 million in new revenue for the state

FARMINGTON, FEBRUARY 11 – The Connecticut Food Association today announced the launch of the “End Connecticut’s Blue Laws” campaign to end the state’s antiquated ban on the Sunday sale of beer, wine, and spirits in neighborhood grocery and package stores.    Connecticut is the only state in the Northeast that still prohibits such sales.  This means less convenience for Connecticut consumers and lost business for grocery and package stores located near the border of neighboring states that have eliminated this blue law prohibition.  The ban on Sunday sales is also costing Connecticut millions of dollars in lost revenue that could help with the state’s budget deficit.    According to a December 2009 report issued by the General Assembly’s Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee, the state could see an increase of up to $8 million in new revenue if the Sunday alcohol sales prohibition were repealed.

“There is good reason that 47 out of 50 states have chosen to repeal blue laws which mandate a prohibition of Sunday sales of alcohol beverages – they comply with the constitution and state supreme court decisions, which unanimously have vacated Sunday blue laws,” said Bruce Nevins, owner of WineWise, a retail store in Greenwich, Connecticut near the border with New York.   “Connecticut has the miserable distinction of being 1 of only 3 states that continue to deny citizens and businesses of their rights – simply because of bad politics.  We want to be open, our customers want us to be open, and each week that we’re forced to be closed, significant business and revenue is lost to New York state, just across the border.”

Evidence from a March 2009 poll of Connecticut residents conducted by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States confirms that many consumers are going across the border to purchase alcohol.  According to the poll results:

• 65% of Connecticut consumers report having made alcohol purchases in nearby Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New York.

• 73% of Connecticut consumers who live in border towns report having made package store trips across the border.

“Our grocery stores are already open seven days a week, yet we can only sell beer Monday through Saturday,” said Timothy Devanney, President of Highland Park Market, a family-owned and operated chain of five Central Connecticut stores.  “That doesn’t make a lot of sense for our business or for our customers who should have the freedom to buy beer on Sundays.”

“The retail industry is all about providing consumers with more choice and convenience,” said Stan Sorkin, President of the Connecticut Food Association.  “Ending Connecticut’s outdated ban on Sunday alcohol sales will do just that and raise up to $8 million in desperately needed new revenue to help close our state’s budget deficit.  I urge Connecticut consumers to visit our www.EndCTBlueLaws.org website where they can tell their legislators to end this antiquated blue law.”   Additional information about the campaign and support opportunities are available on the End Connecticut’s Blue Laws Facebook page and on Twitter.