Sunday liquor sales causing a stir

Enfield, Conn. (WTNH) - Over the long holiday weekend, Governor Malloy dramatically altered the debate about Sunday liquor sales in Connecticut.

For Dominic Alaimo, who has operated the Freshwater Package Store in Enfield for 30 years it's an alteration that is way over due.

"It's 80 to 85 percent of the people want this," said Alaimo, "but you have some of your politicians who say; 'I have three stores that don't want to open,' but I remind them that they didn't get into office with just three votes."

"For too long we didn't do the right thing," Malloy said, "and now we're prepared to do it."

On Saturday, the Governor made it clear he will push the issue and push it hard in the upcoming Assembly Session.

"Allowing Connecticut to properly compete with the surrounding states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York when it comes to alcohol sales," said Malloy.

Mary Caronna pretty much runs Caronna's Package Store all by herself, but has come to the conclusion that Sunday sales are inevitable.

"If they give us the option to open, it's time," said Caronna, "it's time...it's a sign of the times. Everybody's out on Sunday, so I'm going more and more towards it."

The opponents say that the big supermarkets will immediately take large amounts of business away because Sunday food shoppers will start buying their beer then.

The opponents also argue that projections of increased tax revenue will not pan out because the extra days and hours will just spread out the same amount of business.

The 600 member Connecticut Package Store Association, which has successfully fought Sunday sales for 20 years, is declining to comment on this story.