‘Nips’ Could See Price Increase in Maine
Maine's liquor agency is proposing to raise retail prices on liquor including the tiny alcohol bottles that survived the Republican governor's efforts to ban their sale.
According to the Associated Press Maine's bureau of alcoholic beverages wants to raise retail prices on 50-milliliter bottles from 99 cents to $1.49.
Price changes would also impact different-sized varieties.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States says it's evaluating the proposal.
A state spokesman said prices changes were planned long before "'nips' became a household phrase."
The bureau told liquor brokers and suppliers the price increase followed concerns the state's profit was not proportional to sales growth.
Maine saw $46 million in liquor profits in 2015, a 66 percent increase from 2003.
Gov. Paul LePage proposed banning tiny alcohol bottles after lawmakers approved a 5-cent bottle deposit according to the Associated Press.