Malloy discusses liquor law overhaul

WTNH TV

Updated: Feb 14, 2012 6:47 PM

Orange, Conn. (WTNH) — Governor Dannel Malloy says his plan to overhaul the state's liquor laws is much more than just Sunday sales. The Governor says his plan will not only lower prices, but it will also create jobs.

On Tuesday the Governor visited the home of one of the largest beer distributors in the nation to promote his push for the overhaul of the state's liquor laws.

The 215 employees at Dichello Distributors in Orange send hundreds of cases of Anheuser-Busch products to retailers in New Haven and Fairfield county every day.

Representatives of all eleven distributors in the state made their way to Orange Tuesday to tell the Governor they are all on board for his liquor law overhaul.

"This is a comprehensive package to modernize, in line with our neighboring states who we're competing with," Malloy said, "but we're actually not competing with...they're eating our lunch."

Malloy noted that the same bottle of wine can cost $7 less in Massachusetts and that vodka, gin, and whiskey can be $5 to $6 less.

On the tour the Governor revealed that he had gone to two package stores in Massachusetts last Sunday, seen hundreds of Connecticut plates in the parking lots and is now convinced state pricing policy must be changed and that this too is a jobs issue.

Malloy says the change would reduce the price of a case a beer between $2 and $5.

The CEO at Dichello Distributors says the combination of lower prices and Sunday Sales is a winner.

When News 8 asked CEO Edward Crowley if he would hire more drivers if the plan went through he replied, "In our business it wouldn't only be truck drivers. We would be hiring more truck drivers, we would be hiring warehouse personnel because of the volume coming in, so it's a trickle down affect."

There would be up to seven percent more business just in beer sales because Sunday is now the biggest grocery shopping day of the week.

State lawmakers are planning an all day public hearing at the State Capitol on the proposed liquor law overhaul in two weeks.

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doyoucare | February 20 2012 3:02pm
The Governor does not care about the small business owners in the state,he only wants big box stores in business. He is comparing CT to MA and NY, do we have tolls in CT? Do they have tolls in MA and NY , you know what the answer is. Can we ask the Governor where he came up with 8 million in additional revenue if Liqour is sold on Sunday's he does not have an answer because there is no answer. The number is made up by him and his team. Governor needs to take lessons from MA by eliminating sales tax on Liquor, that is how you increase business in the state. The goveror needs to learn a lesson from NJ governor, listen to the speech Governor of NJ gave , Increased taxes only mean one thing the state is spending more money then they should. He is right. Take examples from your neighbours that work do not cherry pick what you want. Do the right thing Governor.

indy | February 15 2012 7:03am
I do not see how it will lower cost. Sounds like they are using "smoke and mirrors" to pass this. In the end a case of beer will go up.

MilfordNative | February 14 2012 11:26pm
yeah, the public will win. Just ask any spouse or family member of a drunk. Lets give them more opportunity to buy their substance of choice.

Whalers2185 | February 14 2012 8:59pm
If the state wants to increase its beer sales, Sunday sales is not answer to stop people from jumping to mass for beer. How about the governor check out table and vine on a Saturday. Mass gets certain beers that CT does not get due to the fact CT charges breweries a lot more then most states to sell their products and in mass you don't have to pay sales tax on beer. Craft beer is a booming market and there are other ways to get people to buy more beer then being open on Sunday's.

OverTaxed | February 14 2012 7:35pm
Malloy will do whatever he can to get more tax revenue except cut spending. The only way this state will survive is to make drastic spending cuts starting with public employee pensions. NO thanks governor.

binky6567 | February 14 2012 5:47pm
I like what the Governor is trying to do. It sounds like a win win for the public. Yes the store owners will have to stay open on Sunday if the want the business. But the public wins and that is all the matters. I support the Governor all the way on this. Thank You Governor.

Hosed-by-the-system | February 14 2012 4:43pm
* The Governor says his plan will not only lower prices, but it will also create jobs.....* This fits right up there with the amount of money he THINKS is going to come from a damn "suggestion" box...................

Malloy discusses liquor law overhaul

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