CT 'Nickel Per Nip' Program: How Much Did Berlin Get?

BERLIN, CT — Officials with a major Connecticut wine/spirit trade organization said last month the state's battle against "nip" alcoholic beverage bottles is proving to be lucrative for towns, including Berlin.

Larry Cafero, executive director and general counsel of the Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of Connecticut, announced recently that the “Nickel per Nip Environmental Fee” – a program that just passed its fourth anniversary — has now generated approximately $19 million for cities and towns across Connecticut.

"Nips" are those small bottles of liquor that are often found scattered on roadsides and sidewalks, causing significant littering problems.

Cafero said that the revenue for the latest reporting period – April 1 to Sept. 30 – was $2.49 million, an increase of approximately $45,000 over the same time period last year.

For Berlin, the figures during that reporting period are as follows:

• 300,646 nips were discovered from April 1 to Sept. 30 of this year.

• This resulted in Berlin receiving $15,032.30 in environmental fees.

Via this program, every city and town in Connecticut receives 5 cents for each nip sold within its borders.

The program was designed to help cities and towns provide for the collection and proper disposal of nips to combat littering.

Data from the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut shows that some cities and towns have used the funds to support recycling centers and litter-reduction initiatives.

“After four years in action, it’s never been clearer that this program is a resounding success for Connecticut,” said Cafero. “We’ve been receiving great feedback from our partners in municipal government who are benefitting from this new source of consistent revenue for environmental projects, and we’re excited by this program’s continued success.”

“This is effective policy in action,” Cafero added. “I applaud the legislature for their innovative thinking here, and I look forward to watching this continue to benefit our great state.”