Trin. Professor Argues Laws Banning Alcohol Sales on Sunday

On Sunday, March 7, Visiting Associate Professor of American Business and Economic Enterprise Edward Peter Stringham testified at the Hartford capitol complex, arguing that laws banning alcohol sales in Connecticut should be lifted. Connecticut is one of only three states that mandate a ban on the sale of all kinds alcohol on Sundays.

The law is being challenged after the General Assembly's Program Review and Investigations Committee proposed that the ban be lifted in order to generate an estimated $8 million in supplemental revenue for liquor stores and super markets.

While figures such as state police chiefs and some package store owners reject the idea of change, others, such as Stringham, firmly believe that this change would be beneficial.

Stringham began his testimonial by saying, "it is surprising to me that three quarters of a century after the end of Prohibition that we are having this debate at all. This so-called 'blue law,' which is in fact a fallacious title, has been implemented for centuries, leading many to argue that they are antiquated and preventing economic growth."

He continued, "In reviewing the published research on Sunday sales and doing some basic calculations based upon the current size of the Connecticut market place leads me to believe that the $7 to $8 million estimates are entirely reasonable."

Stringham then went into more detail, describing various figures of what the state currently collects from off-premise sales of beer, wine and spirits.

He concludes that Connecticut currently collects approximately $92 million in both excise taxes and sales taxes from off-premise alcohol sales, and that, according to economic projections, liquor sales on Sunday would potentially allow for a 5.5 percent to a 7.0 percent increase in profits.

However, many package store owners disagree, and argue that Sunday sales would not in fact supply a revenue boost, as they think sales would not increase, but would only spread out over a course of seven days as opposed to six.

Furthermore, they argue these changes would only benefit larger alcohol wholesalers.

Lobbyist Carroll Hughes claimed to the Hartford Courant on March 8, that the wholesalers organization known as DISCUS, and the lobbyists who represent the organization are the ones driving the issue, calling them the "booze barons."

Even so, there are package store owners along the state border who feel that they would benefit from changing the law.

Representative Kathleen Tallarita of Enfield, who represents owners such as the commented to The Hartford Courant on March 8, that, "Not only would this boost state revenue by millions of dollars, but it would protect our border liquor retailers."

"Current policy is an inconvenience for customers, and it's time to join 36 other states that have lifted the Sunday ban." Stringham also agrees with Tallarita, saying in his testimony that, "Right now, Connecticut likely loses millions in state tax revenue every year from residents crossing into New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island to buy alcohol on Sundays. Ending the massively inconvenient restriction would keep Connecticut residents shopping in-state instead of out of state. It's also important to note that when customers cross the border to pick up tequila for Sunday night margaritas or beer for the football game, they're also buying gas, grabbing lunch or even shopping at the mall. Connecticut loses out on all that peripheral revenue as well."

Though it will remain to be seen whether the alcohol bill will push through to the decisive stages, as Connecticut legislature, is now predominantly focused on closing a budget gap of over $500 million in the current fiscal year, Stringham and others remain confident that this is a pressing issue.

Stringham closed his testimony with the thought, "Modern entrepreneurs flourish when given the flexibility to better compete - and that certainly is to the benefit of Connecticut's economy."