No "Jelly Shots" and Discount Drinks in CT?

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - People who enjoy slurping down "jello shots" and chasing them with cheap beers soon may find themselves crying in their drinks.

A measure winding its way through the state Legislature would prohibit bars from offering discounted drinks and jello shots - typically a half-ounce of vodka mixed with gelatin - on the theory they promote alcohol abuse, especially among underage drinkers.

"There is no need to offer special incentives to increase alcohol consumption. There's a difference between allowing adults to make the decision to drink and encouraging the decision to drink more," said Consumer Protection Commissioner Mark Shiffrin, whose agency oversees liquor regulations.

The bill already has cleared the General Law Committee and last week was sent from the House to the Judiciary Committee, which was set to consider it Tuesday.

At Fatty McGee's in Southington, summertime brings a rainbow of lemon, lime and cherry jello shots. But getting to the bar means getting past doormen who ask for proper identification.

"Why not go after what's blatantly illegal instead of killing my business?" said bar co-owner Ed Raffile.

People under 21 "are prohibited to be in the bar in the first place," he said. But legal drinkers are attracted by promotions - which can drop the price of a $2.25 domestic draft to $1.50, Raffile said. "People come in and say 'Got any drink specials tonight?' especially the college kids who don't have a lot of money," he said.

Consumer Protection Commissioner Mark Shiffrin, whose agency is charged with enforcing state liquor laws, said the discounts promote abuse.

"There is no need to offer special incentives to increase alcohol consumption. There's a difference between allowing adults to make the decision to drink and encouraging the decision to drink more," he said.

Sen. Thomas Gaffey, the chief proponent of the measure, last week said it will strike at the heart of underage drinking. He said discounted drinks and the jello shots target minors who are enticed by cheap prices and sweet drinks.

"These are the events that attract underage children into bars," said Gaffey, D-Meriden.

When asked about the measure's impact on legal drinkers looking for bargains, and on fans of jello shots, Gaffey said, "I'm a killjoy, what can I tell you?"

James Varano, president of the state's Cafe and Bar Association and owner of Hartford's popular Black Eyed Sally's, said the measure penalizes bars that rigorously check IDs.

And, he said, people who drink set their own limits, which typically deal with tolerance and not money.

"The thinking behind it is three or four beers is your limit, whether those were two bucks or four bucks. (The proposal) doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me," he said.

Varano also co-owns the Pig's Eye Pub, a bar upstairs from his restaurant that caters to a 20-something crowd. He said IDs constantly are checked and that drink promotions are offered to encourage people to try different microbrews, not to attract underage drinkers or encourage people to get drunk.

AP-ES-04-07-98 1715EDT<
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