Grocery Store Wine Battle Goes Before Lawmakers
Opponents Fear Liquor Store Job Losses
POSTED: 11:20 am CST November 17,
2008
UPDATED: 6:09 pm CST November 17,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Will 2009 be the year that wine comes to Tennessee grocery shelves?
VideoA state senate subcommittee listened Monday to the pros and cons of allowing wine sales in grocery stores.Those opposed to the decision predict that their will be a massive loss of jobs in liquor stores if wine is sold at grocery stores."Convenience is not the issue. My door is exactly 50 feet from a Publix grocery store. There's plenty of convenience in buying alcohol today," said one opponent to the legislation.The Tennessee grocers and Convenience Store Association said: "Wine and food go together on the table and should go along side each other at the food store."Three state senators were at the Monday meetings to listen to the debate. The subcommittee chair, Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro, introduced legislation last year to allow wine sales in food stores. The bill failed, so he's trying again in 2009. So, what are the chances in the New Year of the legislation passing?"I would say a six right now on a scale of one to ten," said Ketron.The owner of a wine shop next to a Kroger in Belle Meade said he can offer something the big grocery store chains can't when it comes to wine sales.The owner of Nashville Wine and Spirits believes wine sales at retail food stores is coming, but said the big supermarket chains and wine shops can coexist."Yes, we deal with a lot of small wine growers from Europe that typically have never been involved in any of the food chains," said Bard Quillman of Red Dog Wine and Spirits.The subcommittee is also taking testimony on direct shipment of wine in and out of Tennessee. Tennessee lawmakers will take up the wine legislation when they convene early next year.
VideoA state senate subcommittee listened Monday to the pros and cons of allowing wine sales in grocery stores.Those opposed to the decision predict that their will be a massive loss of jobs in liquor stores if wine is sold at grocery stores."Convenience is not the issue. My door is exactly 50 feet from a Publix grocery store. There's plenty of convenience in buying alcohol today," said one opponent to the legislation.The Tennessee grocers and Convenience Store Association said: "Wine and food go together on the table and should go along side each other at the food store."Three state senators were at the Monday meetings to listen to the debate. The subcommittee chair, Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro, introduced legislation last year to allow wine sales in food stores. The bill failed, so he's trying again in 2009. So, what are the chances in the New Year of the legislation passing?"I would say a six right now on a scale of one to ten," said Ketron.The owner of a wine shop next to a Kroger in Belle Meade said he can offer something the big grocery store chains can't when it comes to wine sales.The owner of Nashville Wine and Spirits believes wine sales at retail food stores is coming, but said the big supermarket chains and wine shops can coexist."Yes, we deal with a lot of small wine growers from Europe that typically have never been involved in any of the food chains," said Bard Quillman of Red Dog Wine and Spirits.The subcommittee is also taking testimony on direct shipment of wine in and out of Tennessee. Tennessee lawmakers will take up the wine legislation when they convene early next year.
Previous Stories:
- March 25, 2008: Wine In Retail Stores Bill Stalls (4 Discussion)
- March 18, 2008: Changes To Grocery Store Wine Bill Proposed
- March 11, 2008: Wine In Grocery Store Battle Continues
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