NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A battle being waged over changing the state's liquor laws is continuing in the state Legislature.

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Tennessee's liquor laws, which were written decades ago, can be complicated.

The way the laws are now, if people want to buy a bottle of wine in Tennessee, they have to go to a liquor store. If someone wants beer, they have to go to a grocery store or convenience store.

However, a liquor store just 50 feet away and in an attached separate building, like the stores at Costco, are perfectly legal.

Tennessee's powerful liquor lobby said that any change in the liquor laws would open a flood gate that would make alcohol more easily available to teens. A Web site aimed at stopping teen drinking is backed by the liquor lobby to emphasize their point.

The Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association is mounting the first real challenge to the Tennessee liquor laws in recent memory.

"This is about consumer choice. It's about competition. It's about 33 states in the United States that allow the sale of wine in retail food stores and five of the eight that surround Tennessee. I think it's important to point out that we're on the front end of this with the responsible vendor law," said TGCSA President Jarron Springer.

Senate Bill 3139 is gaining a lot of interest on Capitol Hill. State Rep. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro is behind the bill that would allow wine sales in supermarkets.

"So many people are used to having this type of opportunity or choice, if you will, to be able to go into their local grocery store and buy wine when they're picking out whatever they're going to have for dinner," Ketron said.

The bill goes through his committee, and he said the water is getting warm.

What are the chances of the bill passing? There's one hitch.

"It’s an election year," Ketron said.

Ketron said people may have to wait until 2009. He said he believes the bill has a good chance to pass then.

Ketron said the state stands to gain an extra $10 million in revenue from selling wine in supermarkets. Kentron said he received 361 e-mails for the measure on Tuesday and only 13 were against it.

CONTACT Send Rep. Bill Ketron an e-mail