Package stores — and at least one lawmaker — are railing against Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal to allow gas stations to sell beer. They claim drunk driving would rise if this was allowed.
Malloy says the argument is being raised as a way defeat the "pro-consumer aspects" of his proposal.
In February, Malloy toured in Orange to . A television reporter asked Malloy specifically about the potential danger of having gas stations sell alcohol.
"Can we just stop for a second. How do you think most people get to a liquor store?" Malloy asked.
“Well, I’m sure they drive there,” the reporter said.
Malloy replied, “So obviously if they’re driving already, it really is much the same, but people are using an argument to try to defeat the modernization and the pro-consumer aspects of what we’re proposing.”
According to the Hartford Courant, state Sen. Edith Prague, a Democrat from Southeastern Connecticut, strongly opposes allowing gas stations to sell beer.
"This bill, for me, is a total outrage — after all these years of us trying to curb drunk driving," she told the newspaper. "It concerns me that people driving in to get gas can run in and get a six-pack. The bill is a disaster.''
Malloy's plan includes a variety of sweeping changes, such as allowing Sunday sales, removing price controls, capping the number of wine and liquor stores with a medallion system and permitting those stores to sell food. The governor said he hopes to make Connecticut more competitive with neighboring states.
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