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No Place in a Free Market

$14.09. I can’t buy a 12-pack of Bud Lite Platinum for less than $14.09 anywhere in the State of Connecticut. The reason for this is not competition, but because a state bureaucrat set the lowest price it can legally be sold. This is part of an outdated and complex set of regulations called “minimum bottle pricing.”

State Representative Dave Yaccarino and State Senator Len Fasano both spoke out Feb. 23 in favor of keeping these laws, even if they hurt consumers by artificially raising prices.

Len, Dave, and I all own small businesses. I can sell a fence for any price I set, without the state telling me that I need to increase my prices. Dave can put his comic books on sale, and the state doesn’t have any input. But a liquor store owner is required to abide by the prices set by the state.

Republican legislators present this as protecting “mom and pop” businesses from larger competitors, but what makes liquor stores unique? By this reasoning, we should set a minimum price for pasta primavera, so that small restaurants can compete with Olive Garden.

We live in a free market society, and minimum bottle laws have no place in a free market. Let liquor stores compete on a level playing field like every other business, and consumers will benefit.

I hope that Len and Dave will reconsider their support for this outdated law, which hurts competition, makes prices higher, and only benefits a few liquor stores and distributors.

Steve Gifford

North Haven

Steve Gifford has established an exploratory committee to run for the General Assembly.