David vs Goliath

Before you make up your mind on what is being marketed as Sunday sales and lower prices, please consider the following letter.

Support David, Not Goliath

Remember the days when you could purchase a record/tape/CD at a local music store or a book at a cozy bookshop? Many of the places I went to knew me by sight; they knew my tastes and always had a recommendation for me. Sadly, most of those stores are gone.

Perhaps you have been reading about the issue of Sunday alcohol sales in this, or other newspapers. If you have, you might even find yourself agreeing with the arguments made to support keeping package stores open on Sundays; more tax revenue for the state and protecting our “border stores” from competition in Massachusetts or New York being the two most touted arguments for Sunday sales.

Unfortunately, the numbers you are seeing in terms of incremental tax revenue are grossly inflated. Connecticut residents are well aware that alcohol cannot be purchased on Sunday and therefore purchase ahead of time. Allowing Sunday sales will simply just spread consumption dollars over two days instead of one. The net increase in tax revenue will simply not amount to what the proposed bill says it will.

The truth is, the issue of Sunday sales is a veil being used to disguise parts of the legislation that threaten 7,000 jobs in the state of Connecticut.

In addition to Sunday sales, the Governor’s legislation will allow for 9 liquor licenses per owner (up from 2). You may be asking yourself, “Why should I care about this?” The truth is, allowing 9 licenses per owner welcomes in big box retail chains to come into the state. This is a significant threat to the small, “mom and pop” package stores where you currently patron to purchase wine, beer, and spirits. The smaller stores simply won’t be able to compete with their “big box” rivals who will be able to negotiate volume discounts from distributors.

Now the question you may be asking yourself is, “Well isn’t that better for me, the customer?” Quite frankly, the answer is simple, no! Have you ever been to a Wal-Mart and left thinking, “Wow, that customer service was tremendous?” The fact of the matter is, you will be loosing the high touch personal service that you have come to expect when purchasing beer, wine, and spirits.

The loss of jobs in the “Mom and Pop” package stores is just the tip of the iceberg. Having fewer stores to service means that distributers need to hire fewer drivers, fewer sales people, and fewer support staff. All these jobs will be lost. In total, an estimated 7,000 jobs will be lost in the state of Connecticut as a result of this legislation. Any rational person can agree that at this point in time we cannot afford to lose any more jobs in our state.

That is why we are asking you to support David and not Goliath.

It was written on behalf of all of the small store owners in Connecticuts Wine and Liquor industry. It is a very simplified look at the enormous change that is being pushed for in Hartford. However, We, as a group hope it will explain and draw support from the public for the people fighting for our individual stores, as we fight this fight together.

It is complicated if you aren't in the industry but we are happy to help you understand it better if you ask.

We're asking for your help. you can lend your support by contacting the following people and asking them to help to keep us in business.


Senators
McKinney john.mckinney@cga.ct.gov
Boucher toni.boucher@cga.ct.gov
Hetherington johnhetherington@housegop.ct.gov

Representatives Email
Steinberg jonathan.steinberg@cga.ct.gov
Fawcett kim.fawcett@cga.ct.gov
Hwang tony.hwang@housegop.ct.gov
Shaban john.shaban@housegop.ct.gov
Lavielle gail.lavielle@cga.ct.gov
Kupchick brenda.kupchick@housegop.ct.gov


Thank you,

Your friends at Harry's