Liquor sales spike during pandemic

By RICK GREEN
The Laconia Daily Sun

Holly Miller, assistant manager at the state liquor store in New Hampton, helps a customer select a bottle of vodka Friday. The store has been busy with out-of-staters streaming in for Memorial Day Weekend. Rick Green / The Laconia Daily Sun

Liquor sales jumped 13.51%, or $17.3 million, from March 1 to May 13, compared to the same time period last year as people stocked up on, and perhaps consumed more, booze during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to figures provided by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission.

Customers, many with out-of-state license plates, were keeping workers busy Friday at the New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlet on Route 104 in New Hampton as traffic streamed into the Lakes Region from Interstate 93 ahead of Memorial Day Weekend.

Assistant Manager Holly Miller said sales have been strong throughout the pandemic, and the store has been even busier lately.

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