A variety of new liquor statutes will become effective this fall that streamline notice provisions and clarify other liquor-related issues in Connecticut.
Beginning October 1, 2025, applicants will no longer be required to record provisional or final liquor permits in the Town Clerk’s office in the municipality where a permit premises is located. Further, recent legislation eliminated the historic newspaper publication notices regarding pending liquor permit applications. Prior to this legislation, two (2) newspaper publication notices were required. However, applicants will still be required to post the placard issued by the Department of Consumer Protection – Liquor Division on the front door of the permit premises to notify the public of a pending liquor permit application at that site. If the front door is more than 25 feet from the travel roadway, the 4’x 6’ sign must still be erected to advise the public of the pendency of a liquor permit for that premises.
In addition, the definition of “grocery store” for the purposes of liquor statutes now states that such an establishment must “derive more than fifty percent of such store’s retail sales from any combination of dairy products, eggs and poultry, fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood and grocery products.” Further, the legislation clarified that a grocery store shall not be required to sell fresh fruit and vegetables, meat or seafood, and that a grocery store “does not include any store that is primarily engaged in the retail sale of one category of food items such as bakery products, candies, confectioneries, dairy products, eggs, fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry or seafood.”
To view all of the revisions to the state’s alcoholic liquor laws, review Public Act No. 25-51. Carmody’s Alcohol & Beverage and Real Estate & Land Use practice groups continue to monitor this matter.
If you would like to learn more about this topic or other liquor-related matters, please contact:
Liz Suchy
Partner
203.252.2656
esuchy@carmodylaw.com
This information is for educational purposes only, to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish any attorney-client relationship.