Legislators may again discuss easing wine sales

Lawmakers are gearing up for another fight over whether to loosen restrictions on wine sales in Tennessee.

Republican state Sen. Bill Ketron, of Murfreesboro, led the effort to allow wine sales in supermarkets in the last legislative session. That bill stalled, but a special study committee will meet in November to discuss the issue.

"We're going to have a good debate," he said.

The state's liquor wholesalers and retailers oppose changing the current rules that require any alcoholic drinks stronger than beer to be sold in liquor stores. An industry-backed Web site claims there would be more access to wine by underage drinkers if the law were changed.

"Where there is more access to alcohol, there are DUIs, more motor vehicle accidents," said Charles Sonnenberg, president of Frugal MacDoogal liquor store in Nashville. "Do you think wine should be sold 24 hours a day? Do you think wine should be sold next door to schools?"

A campaign called "Red, White and Food" was launched by The Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association this spring to lobby for changing the law. The group has distributed bumper stickers that ask, "Why not Wine?"

Supporters dispute whether changing the rules would encourage underage drinking and say liquor stores are nervous about losing business. Those concerns may be misguided, said Todd Murphy, vice president and general manager of the Nashville-based H.G. Hill grocery store.

"If you look at neighboring states, you see that wine and liquor stores can coexist with grocery stores that sell wine," he said. "In some places, you see liquor stores and grocery stores right next to each other."

Wine drinkers who have moved to Tennessee from other states with more flexible laws often express surprise at the restrictions.

"If we can buy beer in the grocery store, why can't we buy wine?" asked Yvonne Smith, who moved to Nashville with her husband eight years ago. "If I'm on my way to a Sunday barbecue, I'd like to be able to stop in the store and pick up a nice, cheap bottle on the way.

"Alcohol is legal, so why shouldn't we be able to buy it?" she asked.

Wine can be sold in supermarkets in 33 states.