The juice is not worth the squeeze. 

Only recently has Connecticut’s economy recovered to the point where it was before the Great Recession, but the state still lags behind the country and the Northeast in job growth. 

The legislature’s Joint Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee recently proposed a 10 percent increase in the alcohol excise tax. This follows a 20 percent increase in that tax under Governor Malloy. If this budget bill passes, this would be a 30 percent tax increase in just a few years. 

Higher taxes equal higher prices. According to an economic analysis by the Distilled Spirits Council, this proposal could cost 130 hard-working Connecticut citizens their jobs and retailers over $11 million in lost sales. 

The beneficiaries of higher taxes are retailers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. They know Connecticut consumers are willing to drive across state lines for lower prices as evidenced by their weekly full-page ads in Connecticut newspapers. 

This alcohol tax increase proposal is the quintessential back-room deal. It was never given a hearing, there was no opportunity for public comment and the parties affected had no input. 

Tell your representatives that enough is enough by going to www.noctalcoholtax.com. 

Jay Hibbard

Vice President

Distilled Spirits Council

Washington, D.C.