Ledyard And Gales Ferry Liquor Stores To Open On Sunday

A new law allowing businesses to sell alcohol on Sunday, and on Monday holidays, is slated to go into effect this weekend.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law on Thursday a bill amending Connecticut’s Blue Laws, giving permittees the option of selling liquor and beer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

The law, slated to go into effect immediately, of selling on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, and on Mondays following a Christmas or New Year's Day holiday that falls on a Sunday.

Malloy signed the bill into law on Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Enfield Town Hall. After the law goes into effect the only state left to prohibit Sunday liquor sales will be Indiana.

A Naugatuck legislator, Republican state Rep. Rosa Rebimbas, reportedly worked on the bill along with state Sen. Kevin Witkos, R-Canton, supporting the hourly limit on alcohol sales as well as increasing — from two to three — the number of package stores a permittee can own.

“The alcohol industry is regulated for good reason. I’m pleased that we’ve developed a workable proposal that can be supported by both package stores and policymakers.” Rebimbas said in a press release.

But some opponents have argued that the new law will put an unnecessary burden on small businesses, forcing them to stay open and compete with the bigger package stores and distributors.

Patch checked in with our Ledyard and Gales Ferry liquor stores to find out which plan on being open this weekend. Here are their responses:

Stores Staying Open:

• — Will be open on Sundays, starting May 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• — Will be open on Sundays, starting May 20, from 12 to 5 p.m.
• — Will be open on Sundays, starting May 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• — Will be on Sundays, staring May 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• — Is open on Sundays anyway, plans on selling beer during the permitted hours.