© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Package Store 'Essential' Designation In Pandemic Is 'Good Public Health'

Nancy Eve Cohen
/
New England Public Radio
John Samek of Hardwick Winery delivers wine to Piyush Patel of Northampton Liquors and Wine. Samek has had to close his weekend venue where he serves wine, but he can still sell by the bottle.

Connecticut, Massachusetts and other states have designated the retail sale of alcoholic beverages as "essential business” during the coronavirus pandemic, meaning packages stores are allowed to stay open. 

It may be a bit of a head scratcher: You can't go to the gym, but you can buy a bottle of vodka. But the decision is considered a public health measure.

Jennifer Whitehill, a public health researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said if package stores were to close abruptly, that could cause other health problems for heavy drinkers, or those going through detoxification.

“[Things like] seizures and hallucinations that would likely end up sending someone to seek care in an emergency department, which is exactly where we don't want anybody to go right now,” Whitehill said. “We need to preserve the capacity of our health system to focus on the COVID-19 crisis.”

Withdrawal can also cause depression, anxiety and irritability, Whitehill said. In some situations that can lead to violence, adding to the current crisis, she said.

Packages stores were designated “essential” this week when Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order requiring all non-essential businesses and organizations to close. That order is in effect until at least April 7. 

Baker justified the decision during a media briefing on Monday.

“Food and beverage operations, which would include package stores, fall in as essential, and that's driven by federal policy as much as anything else, and is in every single other order that we've read in every other jurisdiction that's issued one at the state level,” Baker said.

At least one state, Pennsylvania, has closed liquor stores amid the pandemic. The move raised concerns among some advocates, according to the The Philadelphia Inquirer.

By "federal policy," Baker's office said the governor was referring to federal guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

The governor on Monday also said medical marijuana dispensaries were to stay open, but recreational marijuana stores could not. 

“The main reason for that is — because Massachusetts is one of the few states in a big geographic area that has available recreational marijuana and a ton of traffic associated with that is coming from other states, we felt [recreational marijuana stores] in particular would need to be closed and would not be considered essential as part of this order,” Baker said.

At least one cannabis industry lobbying group is actively pushing back against the forced closure. The Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association sent a letter to the governor on Friday asking him to reverse his decision.

Some other states with legal recreational marijuana have allowed the recreational side of the industry to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jill has been reporting, producing features and commentaries, and hosting shows at NEPR since 2005. Before that she spent almost 10 years at WBUR in Boston, five of them producing PRI’s “The Connection” with Christopher Lydon. In the months leading up to the 2000 primary in New Hampshire, Jill hosted NHPR’s daily talk show, and subsequently hosted NPR’s All Things Considered during the South Carolina Primary weekend. Right before coming to NEPR, Jill was an editor at PRI's The World, working with station based reporters on the international stories in their own domestic backyards. Getting people to tell her their stories, she says, never gets old.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content
Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.