Sunday liquor sales begin May 20th

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Gov. Dannel Malloy say he will sign the Sunday liquor sales bill into law early next week, clearing the way for Sunday sales starting on May 20th.

Some estimates say this will generate millions in revenue for the state because people on the borders will shop here in Connecticut on Sundays instead of New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

It may not be the most important issue but it certainly was no turkey and created the most buzz,and now it appears Sunday liquor sales in Connecticut will commence for the first time on May 20th.

"At this point, my preference would be to sign it early next week," Malloy said Thursday.

The Sunday liquor sales law becomes effective on the day Governor Malloy signs the bill so when he signs it early next week the following Sunday package stores that chose to, will be open and supermarkets can sell beer between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m..

The only days when liquor sales will be banned will be Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, and when those holidays fall on a Sunday the stores can stay open on the following Monday when most people get a holiday off from work.

Republicans noted today that the Sunday sales law does not offer anything to break the high price stranglehold on Connecticut liquor, wine and beer prices as Malloy had proposed.

"A big incomplete when it came to the sweeping reform that the Governor put forth regarding liquor sales," said Minority Leader Rep. Larry Cafero.

The new law only allows one discounted item per month, so prices will continue to be generally higher here than in the big stores in the surrounding states.

"What we did is do away with the 'Blue Laws' as they've existed for centuries in our state," Malloy said. "What we also did was lay down a marker on consumer reform within that industry."

That marker is a special 15 member commission that this law establishes to investigate Connecticut's pricing policies. Malloy promises to appoint and get that commission moving as quickly as possible so that more competitive liquor, wine and beer pricing can be addressed early in next year's General Assembly session.