Jean Cronin, Executive Director, CT Package Stores Association
By Jean Cronin, Executive Director, CT Package Stores Association
Connecticut continues to be one of the top nip-selling states in the nation. This is nothing new to anyone that is in the liquor industry or, quite frankly, anyone who has observed the amount of money that the towns are receiving due to the 50-cent fee on each container. The program of implementing the fee has been a success. With nearly $19 million that has been generated and sent to the towns and cities across the state since the program started a few years ago, this program has worked.
Recently, during a Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting, which is overseen by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, a presentation was given by the Council on Environmental Quality. The presentation to the committee was regarding how municipalities have spent the money they have received from the environmental fee in their town. The results were quite interesting as to how towns saw the funds should be spent.
The Council on Environment Quality received a response back from 91 different towns that collect money from nip sales within their borders. There were 66 municipalities that had an average spending of $3,177 during one of their two yearly payments. When it came to dealing with the litter of nips, municipalities reported using two different types of methods.
The first being mechanical equipment, such as storm drain filters or street sweepers. More than 26% of municipality respondents said they expended their nip money this way, which totaled $553,387. Twenty-five percent of municipalities responded by saying they spent the money on personnel, which was assigned for litter pickup or to positions that dealt with recycling and waste as a whole.
A question was also listed on the form asking what the municipalities thought of the program and if it was working. Eighteen towns responded to that question, 15 of which said that the program was effective or very effective at reducing litter or solid waste. Three municipalities said that program was not effective at reducing litter.
Another interesting point from the presentation was the difference from fiscal year 2024 and 2025 as to how the municipalities changed their spending of the environmental fee. The trend of municipalities using the money on recycling coordinator positions has increased. In 2025, 55% of municipalities used the money on for recycling coordinators, as opposed to 46% in 2024.
There appears to also be a decrease in the amount of money spent on recycling equipment from 2024 to 2025. This could be explained simply due to the fact that the recycling equipment was a one-time purchase and is now already in place. There also appeared to be an increase in spending on educational programs when it came to solid waste.
For as long as nips are sold in Connecticut, there will be a fee for their disposal. Advocates from around the state continue to ask for a statewide or municipal ban on the sale of nips, but the Connecticut Package Stores Association (CPSA) and the liquor industry have pushed back on those proposals at the state capitol. Any proposals to change the liquor regulatory landscape will be sent to CPSA members for their notification and feedback, but for now, the fee in place seems to be effectively addressing the issue.
Jean Cronin is the President of Hughes & Cronin Public Affairs Strategies, where she is responsible for developing and implementing legislative initiatives for the firm’s clients, and directing a variety of trade and professional associations managed by the firm. Cronin joined the firm in 1986 after serving as a communications strategist for the Connecticut Senate Majority Office, where she became well-versed in the politics and insight of the State Capitol. She is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Package Stores Association, following the passing of longtime director, Carroll J. Hughes.
