On April 2, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont issued an executive order for an extension of a 30-day period of credit for liquor permittees. Executive Order 7S modifies state law to permit the maximum period of credit for liquor permittees from certain creditors, including wholesalers and manufacturers, to be 90 days after the date of delivery for all permittees prohibited from engaging in on-premise sales per Executive Order No. 7D.

The order states “due to the widespread financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary responses to it,” which included social distancing to protect public health and safety and the closure of bars and restaurants to all on-premise service of food and beverages. State officials recognized that “many businesses may be experiencing lost revenue from the prohibition of on-premise food and beverage sales, which will hinder their ability to make timely payments to their creditors.”

Lawrence Cafero Jr., Executive Director of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut (WSWC) said, “WSWC wholeheartedly supports Restaurants being given an extension of credit given the unprecedented and dire circumstances they have found themselves as a result of the [COVDI-19] crises.”