Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
LYNN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The new year can bring a lot of problems to liquor stores around the state.
With the rise in popularity of taking part in Dry January, many people are skipping out on drinking alcohol for the month or even longer. Cliff Ansara owns Lynnway Liquors in Lynn and said this time of year has always been tough for liquor stores.
"It got the name [Dry January] on social media but it's been around forever," he said. "January and February are the worst months of the year for alcohol."
However, this trend is not something that's only seen around the new year. Ansara said alcohol sales have been dropping for some time and he thinks he knows why.
"Sales nationwide have dropped anywhere between three and five percent in the alcohol industry this year," he said. "Marijuana itself has definitely made an impact because it's like the new Hollywood movie star on the street."
To adapt to a changing market many liquor stores, and liquor companies, are creating nonalcoholic versions of their drinks. While nonalcoholic beer has had a market for a while, some companies are even making nonalcoholic liquor like tequila and whiskey.
While Ansara thinks nonalcoholic liquor is more of a fad, he said he believes nonalcoholic beer's popularity is here to stay.
WBZ's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.