Malloy Outlines Plan For Sunday Liquor Sales In Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Gov. Dannel Malloy is outlining a plan which will allow liquor and beer to be sold on Sundays in Connecticut and extend sale hours at stores, bars and restaurants to 10 p.m.

"I'm certainly hoping that it will be successful. It will allow the state to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in sales that we're currently losing; obviously having a good impact on employment," he said.

Malloy calls it a simple issue of competition, with residents near Connecticut's borders heading into New York, Massachusetts or Rhode Island to buy alcohol.

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It's not a new idea. Similar proposals have failed in the Legislature despite estimates that it could bring in an additional $8 million in revenue to the state.

The Connecticut Package Stores Association has consistently fought Sunday sales, saying stores can't afford to open seven days a week.

Malloy, however, disagrees.

"We will not require that stores open on Sundays if they don't want to, but we give the option," he said.

The governor's proposal would also push back bar and liquor store closing times by an hour.

A similar bill died in committee in the last legislative session. Malloy didn't endorse similar legislation, but said he would sign it. It never came up for a vote.

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