Půjčky Praha

With more than 1,200 package stores in Connecticut, some think the state already has enough places to buy booze.

But Gov. Danny P. Malloy ^[1] says that consumers have been hurt by the lack of competition under the state ‚s liquor laws, and has proposed a sweeping bill that would let convenience stores at gasoline stations sell beer. Nationally, 40 states already allow beer sales at convenience stores, including New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.

The proposal has set off a huge Clash at the state Capitol, where the package stores are battling a potentially major expansion of beer sellers. In recent TESTIMONY and in Interviews, the package stores and an Outspoken legislator have said that it is a public safety issue for drivers who could buy single Cans of beer, known as „road sodas,“ at gas stations at night and potentially drive drunk on the way home. They also question whether the state has enough liquor-control Inspectors to prevent sales to Minors at gasoline stations all across the state.

While state Officials estimate as many as 1,600 new outlets could open, the New England Convenience Store Association estimates that about 500 stores might apply for a license to sell beer. The numbers could be held down because the stores would need to buy more insurance and the proposed law contains various restrictions on the size of stores that would be eligible. In addition, some owners might decide against Trying to sell beer if they need to renovuje the store or believe they would make few Profits if there ‚s a large package store nearby, Officials said.

Sen. Edith Prague ^[2] , a Democrat who has pushed for stronger Drunken driving laws for years, says that selling beer at convenience stores has too much potential for problems.

„I think that is Outrageous, especially if they sell gas,“ Prague said in an interview.“ This bill, for me, is a total Outrage – after all these years of us Trying to Curb drunk driving. … It Concerns me that people driving in to get gas can run in and get a six-pack. The bill is a disaster.“

„I’d be surprised if it gets out of committee the way it is,“ Prague said.

Like Prague, the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking is concerned that the proposed change could lead to an increase in underage drinking.

But Supporters of the convenience stores are pushing back hard, saying that the change would help consumers. Barbara Koren, a Connecticut native who is the retail marketing manager for a company that Owns 24 convenience stores, scoffed at the notion that selling beer at the stores would lead to increased Drunken driving.

„Everyone drives to the package store – and they drive to me,“ Koren said.

Package stores are currently permitted to sell single bottles or Cans of beer in the same way that the convenience stores would. Under the law, a stand-alone convenience store can already sell beer in Connecticut if the store does not have gasoline pumps outside.

Like Malloy, the convenience store owners say that they are looking for the best deal for the consumer. Beer, Koren said, is the third-highest-selling item nationally in convenience stores after tobacco products and fast food.

„Competition always strengthens the consumers ‚position,“ Koren said.

Kevin Curry, Who Owns three Danby ‚s convenience stores – in New Britain ^[3] , Wallingford and Meriden ^[4] – said he would not sell beer at his smallest store but would consider doing it at his two other stores.

„I don’t see every convenience store in the state running out and putting beer in,“ Curry said in an interview.“ If you have a full store today, you’re not going to say, ‚I‘ m putting beer in. ‚“

Rather than losing jobs, Curry thinks the proposal would increase jobs by increasing sales.

„We want to be able to sell moře products,“ he said.“ We want to sell like anybody else – free enterprise.“

Cathy Barber, the legislativě chair of the Connecticut branch of the New England Convenience Store Association, noted that 80 procent of convenience stores are already open seven days a week.

„We want to be open,“ Barber told legislators during a hearing that lasted more than 10 hours.“ We want to do moře business.“

Opponents said that another problem could be youths working at the gasoline stations who would be under pressure to sell beer to their friends who are underage. But the convenience store association says the stores already Abid by age limits in their daily sales that prevent Minors from buying cigarettes and lottery tickets. The beer sales would be an extension of the age restrictions that are in place, according to the association.

Carroll J. Hughes, the chief lobbyist for the Connecticut Package Stores Association for the past 36 years, agrees with Prague that many consumers would buy single Cans of beer at the gasoline station.

„You don’t stock your home bar at a convenience store at a gasoline station,“ Hughes said.“ Se what do you do? You’re drinking it. That ‚why we’re opposed to it.“