By Keith M. Phaneuf
With an announcement timed to make the Sunday newspapers, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy intends to propose a series of changes Saturday in the state’s restrictive alcohol laws, including a repeal of minimum pricing and the ban on Sunday sales.
Administration officials say Malloy will explain his proposal in Enfield, one of the border towns where package-store owners have broken with the rest of what is a mom-and-pop industry and asked to compete with longer hours of operation and flexible pricing.
Aside from the convenience of being able to shop on Sunday or as late as 10 p.m., consumers could see lower prices for alcohol, one of the products for which Connecticut long has had a “minimum markup.”
The Malloy administration hopes to realize greater tax revenues from the longer hours and Sunday sales, but the main goal is a more competitive regulatory structure that yields lower prices for consumers and discourages state residents from crossing into New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island for alcohol.
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Back in the 70’s and 80’s, Westport was the night spot of Fairfield County due to its “Cafe Permit” policy with extended hours for the many bars lining the Post Road. That translated into more drunks on the road, many more bar fights, a significant increase in traffic in the early morning hours and the many accidents, arrests, injured police officers and related crime that accompanied this stupid idea. Many nights saw more bar fights erupting at closing time than there were patrols to cover them. Not many people are left from those days, but don’t think for a minute that the same situation wouldn’t return along with extended hours today. Not a good idea!!!
Dick Alley – Inspector (Retired) WPD