State officials say they've collected $2 million less in alcohol taxes for 2008 than the year prior, possibly due in part to the recession.
Heading into November, excise tax collections were down in Connecticut by $925,000. Sales had spiked in September, but November collections slumped by more than $1 million.
Richard Beladino, manager of a Norwalk Stew Leonard's, says customers are buying cheaper alcohol and less of it because money is so tight.