State Representative Laura Hoydick (R-120) supported the passage last night of legislation which will allow for the sales of alcohol on Sundays, doing away with one of Connecticut’s last standing decades-old “blue laws.”
In addition to Sundays, the bill also permits the sales of alcohol on three state holidays - Labor Day, the Fourth of July and Memorial Day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The legislature’s non-partisan Office of Fiscal Analysis has estimated that he change in the law will result in a projected $5.2 million of additional revenue to the state, as well as provide an opportunity for liquor stores to enjoy greater sales volumes.
“I think this measure will offer many local Stratford businesses the opportunity to take in greater revenue and will especially be a great benefit to the new Stratford Two Roads Brewery just as it gets underway,” said Rep. Hoydick.
The bill scaled back on the deregulation of the liquor industry that Governor Dannel P. Malloy originally sought, and creates a bipartisan task force which will study the deregulation of pricing of the liquor industry, particularly at the issue of minimum pricing as compared to surrounding states.
“The governor had proposed eliminating minimum pricing which I think could have resulted in a number of smaller stores having to close as large box stores swallowed them up,” said Rep. Hoydick. “It would have negatively affected our distribution businesses and put people out of work. Thankfully, we eliminated that provision, which would certainly have been counter-productive when we are trying to maintain that Connecticut is open for business.”
The bill passed the House by a vote of 116 to 27, and passed the State Senate this evening with a vote of 28-6. It now heads to Governor Dannel P. Malloy who is expected to sign the bill into law.
