An interview with Molly Devanney, Vice President of Public Relations and part owner, of Highland Park Market shares the reasons why this should be allowed in our state. A recent survey shows 84% of Connecticut residents favor the sale of wine in grocery stores.
Listen to her interview with Renee now!
For Immediate Press Release
CT LAWMAKERS URGED TO ALLOW SALE OF WINE IN SUPERMARKETS
Polling Shows 84% of CT Residents Support Wine Sales in Grocery Stores
HARTFORD, CT – With a recent survey showing 84% of Connecticut residents favoring the sale of wine in grocery stores, legislators were today urged to consider legislation that would end the prohibition-era law which prohibits supermarkets from selling wine. Currently, Connecticut is one of only eight remaining states in the nation that prohibits the sale of wine in grocery stores.
“Consumers have made it clear that they want the option of picking up a bottle of wine when they are shopping for groceries,” said Wayne Pesce, President of the Connecticut Food Association (CFA), which represents the state’s supermarkets ranging from small family-owned businesses to larger regional grocery chains. “An overwhelming majority of adult Connecticut grocery shoppers have told us they want the convenience of one-stop shopping and time savings. This same majority of people who would like to purchase wine in a grocery store cuts across age, gender, race, and political affiliation.”
Ken Dautrich, a professor emeritus at UCONN and head of the survey research firm The STATS Group, released the results of a recently conducted public opinion poll of Connecticut residents on the subject of wine sales in Connecticut’s traditional grocery stores. Among the findings: 84% say they approve of allowing wine sales in supermarkets. Dautrich said, “Most issues don’t have such strong support as this. It’s ‘off the charts’ high. I can’t think of another instance where I’ve seen this much support for an issue.”
The state’s package stores have traditionally opposed the sale of wine in grocery stores. But after completing a comprehensive study, one expert suggests that changing the state law won’t result in “losers.” That study, by UConn's Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy and the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, investigated economic and social impacts of this legislation.
UConn Professor Fred V. Carstensen urged lawmakers to think beyond a zero-sum outcome: “Perhaps surprisingly, our analysis found that opening up more access to wine would be broadly beneficial, good for consumers and business. Consumers will have new consumption choices. This will likely expand interest in wine and result in more people going to package stores,” said Carstensen, Director of the CT Center for Economic Analysis. “Our study found the change would deliver modest economic benefits and job gains. It also looked at what happened in other states where the law changed to allow supermarkets to sell wine; we found no evidence of harm to package stores.”
In tackling the main argument by opponents of grocery store wine sales that the change would drive package stores out of business, Carstensen pointed out that the state of Tennessee, which allowed supermarket wine sales in 2014, has seen its number of package stores increase since the law changed. Before the 2014 law passed there were less than 600 retail package stores in the state. Today, Tennessee has 740 liquor stores – a 26% increase over a decade ago.
“As a small business we always take into account what our customers want,” said Molly Devanney, Vice President at Highland Park Market. “Customers consistently ask us where the wine is located in our store. People are seeking this availability and there is no reason not to provide it for people. We don’t presume to have the expertise of our friends who own package stores, but we could carry some brands that customers could pair with that night’s meal.”
The current prohibition on wine sales in supermarkets has a direct effect on Connecticut’s agriculture sector, according to Hilary Criollo. As the owner of Hopkins Vineyard in Warren, Criollo knows how significant it would be for Connecticut’s wineries if they had additional outlets for selling their product.
“We don’t think this is a big ask,” said Criollo. “ The state has invested significant resources in supporting our local wineries, and this would be a way to open up new markets for us, allowing us to expand and hire additional employees.”
A bill to change the current law would originate in the General Assembly’s General Law Committee.
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