Topline

Pandemic drinking at the Connecticut state capitol has gone too far, the state speaker of the House said Wednesday, telling reporters he's had to personally admonish some lawmakers and is considering stripping committee assignments from those who continue to imbibe on the job.

Key Facts

House Speaker Matt Ritter (D) said Wednesday there will be "significant consequences" for excessive drinking at the capitol that could even go beyond taking members off committees.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been involved in the excessive drinking during the session, Ritter said, but the crackdown comes after an incident last week where a lawmaker appeared clearly inebriated while speaking during debate on an early childhood education bill.

State Rep. Robin Comey (D) struggled to string even a few words together as she spoke on the House floor during the Thursday night debate, before walking away to the women's restroom, according to the Hartford Courant.

The newspaper reported she did not drive herself home that night, and Comey issued a statement Wednesday admitting her behavior was "due to several factors, including anxiety, exhaustion, and, regrettably, the wine I had with dinner."

Further Viewing

Crucial Quote

“To say that this is being taken seriously would be an understatement,” Ritter said Wednesday.

Key Background

Legislative leadership told the Hartford Courant they believe changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have been a major factor in the excessive drinking, while Ritter acknowledged the adjustment "probably has contributed to it a little bit." Over the past year, lawmakers have largely been able to avoid interacting with the public at the capitol, while there are new rules allowing them to watch proceedings and vote from the privacy of their own offices, leading to long periods of down time.

Tangent

Massive spikes in the sales of alcohol and recreational marijuana during the coronavirus pandemic have fueled concerns Americans are unhealthily relying on the substances to cope with mental health issues. A study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, for example, found alcohol sales during April and June 2020 were up by 34% compared to the same time frame in 2019.

Further Reading

Allegations of excessive drinking among lawmakers at Connecticut Capitol being taken ‘very, very seriously,’ House speaker says. Lawmaker apologizes for ‘wine I had with dinner.’ (Hartford Courant)

Soaring Pandemic Alcohol Sales Cause Concern For Doctors (Forbes)