The quaint coastal town of Plymouth is at a crossroads over whether to keep miniature liquor bottles, commonly known as 'nips', on store shelves or to yank them due to environmental and public health concerns. On January 13, residents will head to the polls in a special election spurred by local business interests to decide on the 'Nips' ban.
A report from CBS News Boston captures both sides of the issue. Dr. Ken Stone, an advocate for the ban, highlighted that "We picked up 14,000 nips in four days of cleanups," On the other side of the debate, Peter Balboni, owner of Pioppi's Package Store, warns of dire economic consequences. "A business like mine could expect to lose anywhere from 15 to 40 percent of its business," Balboni said in a statement. He emphasized that a ban could mean the loss of not just liquor sales but also of complementary products like beer and lottery tickets, which typically accompany a nip purchase.
The initiative for the nip ban was initially passed during the Plymouth Town Meeting in October. However, following pushback from local merchants like Balboni, it was moved to a townwide referendum. According to a piece from BNN Breaking, the ban is seen by some as an environmental necessity, while others regard it as an unjust targeting of a broader issue. Longtime resident Paul Abraham opposes the prohibition, contending that litter poses a broader issue and is not limited to small liquor bottles (nips).
CBS News Boston reports that the Plymouth Town Clerk estimated the special referendum could set taxpayers back by upwards of $57,000. Early voting has already commenced at Town Hall on January 6, allowing residents to cast their ballots ahead of the official voting day.
