US retailer Total Wine has agreed to pay a fine and stop selling wines below minimum price in one US state following an investigation by officials.
Total Wine & More will pay $37,500 to the government of Connecticut after breaking the US state’s minimum pricing rules.
Connecticut’s Liquor Control Act does not allow retailers to sell wines, beer and spirits below the price paid to acquire the drinks from distributors.
The state’s department of consumer protection said this month that it has fast-tracked an investigation into Total Wine.
It said Total Wine broke the rules. The retailer agreed to stop advertising and selling wines below cost.
But, the case has not been as simple as it sounds.
There have been several attempts to scrap the minimum pricing law in Connecticut.
Total Wine filed a lawsuit against the state of Connecticut in August this year. It said the state’s alcohol laws were out-of-date and were forcing consumers to pay more than necessary.
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