Posted on 02/26/2012 10:42:27 AM PST by SmithL
There are some who might wonder why the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association continues to push on with its effort to change state law to allow wine to be sold in retail food stores against what seem to be stacked odds. The answer is simple — it's something that a great number of our customers want, and our industry is based on taking care of our customers.
Is there money to be made by retail food stores selling wine? Of course there is. What's driving our efforts, however, is the increasing number of customers who are frustrated that they do not have the same opportunity for convenience and choice that shoppers in 35 other states have. They simply would like to pick up a bottle of wine while they shop for other items.
Those who are opposed to our efforts, which include liquor store owners, wine and spirits wholesalers, and people who are opposed to any sales of alcohol, will throw out a lot of smokescreens about why they are opposed to a change in the law. But let's not kid ourselves — the liquor industry is concerned first and foremost about maintaining its monopoly on the distribution and sale of wine.
The association fully realizes the challenge of getting state law changed. We are not, however, backing down from the challenge.
We still have a bill alive in the Legislature (SB 318/HB 560) that would allow local referendums on the issue in cities and counties that currently allow sales of wine in package liquor stores, including Knoxville. It's hard to understand why any legislator would be opposed to allowing local residents a chance to decide the issue themselves. Or maybe not.
Liquor store owners and wholesalers have maintained their monopoly on wine sales ...
(Excerpt) Read more at knoxnews.com ...
how quaint.
Tennessee Liquor Wholesalers own the Legislature. We pay a lot more for wine and liquor than people in other states. The Legislature, in appreciation for the very generous donations from the Liquor Wholesalers, keeps competition from interfering with the wholesalers’ stranglehold on wine and liquor sales.
Yeah, no foolin’.
My county here in middle Georgia finally removed the last blue law about selling alcohol on Sundays. Frankly as a Catholic, I was glad to see the stranglehold that Southern Baptists had on the government here lose their stranglehold. There was no reason to limit that other than religious ones no matter what they claimed about public safety.
I believe in separation of church and state in ALL ways not just ones that benefit us.
Being from NY (and Catholic), the south had its shocks...
Someone asked me to go out on a date....to a Baptist Meet. It was REALLY hard to keep a straight face.
Megadittoes for us Pennsylvanians with our State-controlled Liquor Control Board’s boot on our throats.
“The Legislature, in appreciation for the very generous donations from the Liquor Wholesalers, keeps competition from interfering with the wholesalers’ stranglehold on wine and liquor sales.”
Right, you are. As one of the state newspapers put it, ‘Tom “the Golden Goose” Hensley, has represented the liquor wholesalers since 1967 and has earned his keep by keeping wine out of Tennessee’s grocery stores.’
Well at least us reprobates up here in NY State can now buy liquor on Sundays, noon to 9pm. Oh thank you most gracious State for your benevolence. However we can not buy wine in grocery stores and liquor stores can not sell mixers, snacks etc. This is called separation of liquor and food! I am not sure what religion taught that but the almighty state must know best and we must trust them. At least that is what Danica Patrick said so I guess it must be true.
Growing up in Eastern Nebraska, we still had dry townships.
You knew you were in one when everyone had a full bar in their basement. I honestly didn’t know that was odd until I was in my teens!
Sigh. Like everything else, follow the money. The Tenn Wine & Spirits Retails Association (lobby) has deep pockets. I cannot believe we’re still fighting for wine in grocery stores in the year 2012!! By all means, Tennesseans, write your representatives and tell them WE want to vote on this issue. They obviously can’t be trusted to represent the voters when the liquor store $lobbyists$ has insured this is a dead issue.
A move to go to private ownership began 2 years ago. The first referendum went down because the state basically scared people into thinking minors would all be drunk and driving on our roads.
Last November, a similar bill was put forward and it passed. In July, we get private companies allowed to sell. Can't wait to start getting stuff from Costco or Walmart. It will save a lot of money.
Wow. The Krogers here not only sell wine, they have wine tastings. Fun drinking wine and shopping!
Our Trader Joe’s don’t even carry Two-Buck Chuck.
“I cannot believe we’re still fighting for wine in grocery stores in the year 2012!!”
We have the same thing in Minnesota. For a number of years, the grocery lobby has been trying to get the Legislature to allow wine sales in their stores.
Each year, the bill dies in committee - no matter whether Dems or Reps control the Legisalture..
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