Malloy wants liquor bill consumer-friendly

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says he wants changes made to the bill modernizing Connecticut liquor laws to help consumers who typically pay more for alcohol than their neighbors in Massachusetts.

The Democratic governor, who first proposed the wide-ranging bill that allows alcohol sales on Sundays, said Wednesday that he recently noticed how Massachusetts liquor stores were advertising lower prices in Connecticut newspapers prior to the Easter holiday.

Due to Connecticut's pricing structure, Connecticut consumers can sometimes pay about $5 to $9 more for a 1.75-liter bottle of spirits, and about $2 to $9 more per bottle of wine. Malloy said the state's consumers "deserve a break" and that's why he wants to see more "pro-consumer language" added to the bill before it reaches his desk.

The session adjourns May 9.