BRISTOL, Connecticut — A group of Connecticut residents is proposing a change to the law that would allow towns and cities to have the option to ban the sale of nip alcohol bottles. While garnering some support, the group, called, ‘CT Towns Nixing the Nip’ is also facing some opposition.
“I’m looking at Connecticut saying, ‘We can do better with our trash issue’ and the nips are just another component of the trash that is affecting our environment,” said Cynthia Chesky, Co-Founder of CT Towns Nixing the Nip.
About a year ago, Chesky started noticing the tiny liquor bottles while walking across her hometown, Bristol. Soon, she collected more than 60,000 nip bottles over the year in her city alone.
Then, she crossed paths with other advocates, who also noticed the issue. The group soon formed.
“It’s an environmental issue. And we want towns that care about the environmental issues to have the choice to ban nips if they choose to,” Chesky said.
The group is hoping to work with lawmakers to draft a bill that would change the current law, which Chesky said was passed in the 30s.
“I don’t know what the solution is. The solution I see is allowing towns to be able to ban them,” Chesky said.
However, others believe a case-by-case ban is also not the solution.
“It’s chaotic and it doesn’t work. When it comes to alcoholic beverage policy, there must be a uniform set of rules and regulations based on the state,” said Larry Cafero, Executive Director of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut.
Cafero agrees that the little of nip bottles is, in fact, a problem in our state. But he feels this proposal would do more harm than good.
“One thing we want the public to be sure of is a consistency in policy, especially policy that regulates an intoxicant,” Cafero said.
Two years ago, Cafero and others worked to do something about the problem. Through a nonprofit called Three Tires for Connecticut, they got lawmakers to pass a new law.
“So we came up with an idea to charge a surcharge, an environmental fee, specifically for the purpose of cleaning up nip bottles,” Cafero said.
That five-cent fee on each nip bottle sold in Connecticut goes back into the municipalities to work on clean-up efforts. So far, it’s generated $9 million for all 169 towns and cities. Each one has chosen to use the money in a different way whether it’s investing in new equipment or hiring a new sanitation worker dedicated to the issue.
However, Chesky believes the tax doesn’t go far enough since the problem is still persisting.
“The five cents, it isn’t solving the problem, because people are still throwing them out on the ground,” Chesky said.
Chesky has consulted with different towns in Massachusetts, which have banned nip bottles. She said they have reported the program to be a success so far.
Cafero said package stores in Connecticut sell about 94 million nips each year. For the mom-and-pop shops who rely on nip sales, he said, would take a big hit if there was any form of ban on them.
However, the ban is just a proposal at this point. The group hopes lawmakers may introduce the bill next legislative session.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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