Connecticut Package Store Owners, Legislators to Hold Rally Friday To Protest Proposed Changes to Connecticut’s Liquor Laws

Friday, February 24 – 12:15 p.m. – Goshen Wine and Spirits, 61 Sharon Turnpike, Goshen, CT

More than a dozen Connecticut package store owners will join concerned citizens and area legislators at Goshen Wine and Spirits (61 Sharon Turnpike, Goshen) at 12:15 p.m. on Friday to rally against proposed changes to Connecticut’s liquor laws.

State Senator Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen) will host the rally. Bill Fore, President of County Wine and Spirits in New Preston and Mike Higgins, owner of Litchfield Hills Wine Market will be among the store owners in attendance.

Mr. Higgins has gathered more than 3,000 signatures on a petition to reject the Liquor Law Modification Bill (H.B. 5021). The legislature will hold a public hearing on the bill next Tuesday.

H.B. 5021 calls for a host of changes to Connecticut’s liquor laws that would put small independently owned package stores at a significant competitive disadvantage to major retailers and force many out of business. In addition to allowing Sunday sales of alcohol and extending daily sales hours to 10 p.m., the bill would:

Eliminate price posting, minimum bottle, and quantity discount laws;
Devalue package store licenses; and
Allow retailers to own as many as 9 package stores (they are currently limited to 2).

The package store owners say these and other proposed changes would allow major supermarkets and big box retailers to drive them out of business and drive their employees out of work. Many of these stores are family owned and have operated in Connecticut for decades.

The Torrington Register Citizen ran this story today:
Litchfield Store Owner Takes Aim at Malloy’s Liquor Bill
http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2012/02/23/news/doc4f456a0c67af0618034034.txt