Senate panel: quick start uncorking wine proposal

Tennessee lawmakers are wasting little time uncorking a proposal to allow wine sales in supermarkets.

Tennessee currently only allows wine to be sold in liquor stores, and several bills are expected to be filed this year to loosen those restrictions.

The Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday used most of its first meeting of the year to hear from Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials on how they would cope with a possible change in the law.

ABC Executive Director Danielle Elks said depending on what shape the wine proposal takes, her agency estimates between 1,000 to 6,000 stores could seek new permits to sell wine.

The ABC requires about one agent for every 100 stores in the state, meaning its staffing level would have to increase with a law change, she said.

"But presuming the license fee stays the same as retail stores, it appears the license fees would cover the costs associated with that," Elks said.

Former U.S. Sen. Harlan Mathews, a Democrat who represents Middle Tennessee on the three-member commission, said it would be more fair to allow grocery stores to sell wine - and for liquor store to be able to sell beer.