Richard B. Mindek III, Interim Director of the Liquor Control Division, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
By Richard Mindek III, Interim Director, Liquor Control Division
Q: What is the Liquor Law Education Program?
The Liquor Law Education Program is a free online training initiative designed to ensure that anyone applying for an on-premises or off-premises liquor permit is educated on responsible alcohol sales and service. The program includes state developed training videos and materials that cover preventing sales to minors, avoiding overservice, understanding restrictions on promotions, and legal hours of sale and other compliance requirements.
Q: Why was this program created?
Multiple state agencies collaborated to create the program with a shared goal of improving public health and safety related to alcohol consumption and sales. The Department of Transportation (DOT) funded the training to advance its mission of promoting safer roads and communities. The initiative was also intended to be a free resource for all existing liquor permittees to refresh their understanding of Connecticut’s laws, as well as to provide to their employees for training purposes. By making this a license requirement for new permittees, we can ensure all applicants understand their legal responsibilities before receiving a permit.
Q: When did the new requirement take effect?
The education requirement became mandatory for all new permit applicants on January 1, 2026, under recently enacted state law. Applicants must complete the training before their liquor permit can be processed.
Q: Who is required to complete the program?
The requirement covers:
- All new on-premises and off-premises liquor permit applicants
- Transfer of Interest / Transfer of Stock applications
- Substitute Permittee applications
Program participants include the applicant, permittee, backer entity, and all individuals associated with the ownership structure, including owners, members, and shareholders.
Q: Who is exempt from the program?
The following individuals are not required to complete training, however it is always optional:
- Current final permittees, who held an active permit prior to Jan. 1, 2026. The training is also not required for renewal.
- Any person or entity who held an active provisional permit on January 1, 2026. No education is required to convert that provisional permit to a final permit.
- By law, DCP may waive the education requirement, at its discretion. Any waivers must be issued in writing, which may be submitted through the eLicense license maintenance workflow. You may request a waiver if, for example:
o The backer is a large company and, investors that hold less than 5 percent of ownership.
o You have already completed the program as an owner or permittee under another license that was later issued to a backer. If you have already completed the program, you can reupload your original certificate.
Q: How do applicants, permittees and other stakeholders’ access and complete the training?
You must create an account in the Department of Consumer Protection’s Learning Management System, accessed through ct.gov/DCP/LiquorControl. Once registered, they can complete the training modules and generate a certificate of completion. If you are completing the program as part of a permit application this certificate must then be uploaded to eLicense as part of the application process. The course, as well as all information about how to create an account and access the learning modules, can be found by visiting ct.gov/DCP/LiquorControl.
Q: What agencies are involved in launching and maintaining the program?
The training was developed through collaboration between the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). This joint effort reflects a comprehensive approach to improving alcohol related safety statewide.
Q: Where was the program announced?
The public announcement took place at The Wise Old Dog package store in West Hartford, one of the filming locations for the training video. This setting underscored the program’s connection to real world alcohol retail environments and the importance of practical, accessible training.
Q: Why is this program important for Connecticut?
We expect our permittees to understand the risks of alcohol, prevent overservice and sales to minors, recognize signs of intoxication, and much more, in addition to the task of running a business and creating a welcoming environment for the public. It’s a lot to balance, and there are many costs associated with that.
Many permittees have chosen to pay for optional training programs for their employees, and while we don’t want to discourage that additional step, we did want to provide a free state resource to help our business owners meet the expectations we hold for them.
The vast majority of our permit holders are excellent members of their communities, who take these responsibilities seriously, and we’re grateful for that. But there’s always more that can be done, and more support we can provide. Educating applicants helps to strengthen statewide compliance and ensure that alcohol related businesses operate with a clear understanding of their legal obligations.
