Wholesale Laws for Connecticut
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Last Updated: July 16, 2024
Summary
The Department of Consumer Protection regulates all persons and firms involved in distributing, selling, and dispensing alcoholic liquor in order to prevent sales to minors and intoxicated persons, maintain product integrity, and ensure that licensed premises are safe and sanitary. Through the Liquor Control Division, the Department enforces the Connecticut Liquor Control Act and its corresponding regulations.
Laws & Rules:
Supplier Licensing
Required: Yes
Name: Out-of-State Shipper
Fee: $315, plus $100 one-time fee for initial license
Expiration: 1 year from issue date
Only one license is required for both wholesale and direct-to-consumer. The annual fee for an Out-of-State Shipper Permit to ship wine only is $315. The annual fee to ship wine, spirits and/or beer is $1,250.
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, all applications for new permits MUST be submitted online; no paper applications for new permits will be accepted.
Resources:
Product Registration
Required: Yes
Fee: $200
Approval: 1-2 days
Expiration: 3 years from date of approval
Revision Required: Design, Verbiage, Proof, COLA change
Price Posting: Yes
No holder of any manufacturer, wholesaler or out-of-state shipper’s permit shall ship, transport or deliver within the state, or sell or offer for sale, any alcoholic liquors unless the name of the brand, trade name or other distinctive characteristic by which such alcoholic liquors are bought and sold, the name and address of the manufacturer thereof and the name and address of each wholesaler permittee who is authorized by the manufacturer or his authorized representative to sell such alcoholic liquors are registered and approved with the Department of Consumer Protection.
The following information must be submitted with the Brand Label Registration Application: a color copy of each label, federal label approval, independent laboratory analysis or notarized statement detailing the alcohol type and proof for each wine product and wholesaler appointment letter with geographic territory. Brand Label Registrations can also be completed online at https://www.elicense.ct.gov/. As of Feb. 17, 2016, a UNIMERC Number is no longer required.
A Label Registration Amendment Form must be filed for change of design and verbiage or change of proof. ( An amendment form is not required for color, shading, or label format or for a change in vintage.) Attach one old and one new set of labels to the form.
In order for a label to be considered a private label, the registrant must furnish the department with the name and address of the retailer who will sell such brand. Any labels submitted for registration without such accompanying information shall be considered to be for general distribution.
Resources:
Franchise "Monopoly Protection" Law
Franchise Law: Yes
Territorial Provisions: Yes
Please review the law in its entirety and consult legal counsel prior to taking any action.
A supplier must appoint wholesaler(s) with geographical territories of distribution. Territorial designations are not specifically required but, once made to suppliers, actions are regulated. A supplier may only appoint another distributor in a territory after giving six months’ prior notice to the Commission and the existing distributor.
Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, a wholesaler is permitted to sell to any retail licensee outside its designated territory under the following conditions:
1. The retail permittee is willing to accept delivery at such wholesaler permittee’s place of distribution
2. The retail permittee meets any reasonable conditions imposed upon other retail permittees located within such wholesaler permittee’s geographic territory
3. The wine product sought by such retail permittee is not available from any wholesaler permittee serving a geographic territory in which such retail permittee’s place of business is located or is only available from a wholesaler permittee at a higher price.
Resources:
Supplier Reporting Requirements
Required: Yes
Name: Alcoholic Beverages Shipped Into Connecticut
Due Date: Monthly, by the 10th
A report of Alcoholic Beverages Shipped into Connecticut must be filed with the Department of Revenue by the 10th of the month. A copy of the report must also be sent to the Department of Consumer Protection.
Resources:
Sales Representative Licensing
Available: No
A salesperson’s license is not required.
Self-Distribution
Allowed: Yes
License: Required
License Fee: $315, plus $100 one-time filing fee
License Expiration: 1 yr from issue date
Label Registration: Required
Excise Tax: Required
Reporting: Required
A winery holding an Out-of-State Winery Shipper’s Permit for Wine whose annual production does not exceed 100,000 gallons annually may sell directly to licensed retailers in Connecticut. Out-of-State winery applicants must submit an affidavit affirming they did not produce more than 100,000 gallons of wine during the most recent calendar year with their Out-of-State Shipper Permit application, in order to sell directly to retailers.
This permit requires a $500 bond, monthly reporting and excise tax payments.
An Out-of-State Winery Shipper’s Permit also allows the permittee to make direct-to-consumer shipments into Connecticut.
Resources:
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Liquor Control Division
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 901
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: 860-713-6210
Fax: 860-706-1208
dcp.liquorcontrol@ct.gov
Department of Revenue Services
450 Columbus Blvd., Ste. 1
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: 860-297-5962
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