Liquor store owners protest plan to sell wine in supermarkets

Solvay, New York (WSYR-TV) – There is a renewed effort to stop the sale of wine in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Governor David Paterson proposed the idea back in December, saying it would increase tax revenue for the state and business for local wineries.

LEADD, or Law Enforcement Agencies Against Drunk Driving, is formed by several different police agencies around the state. They say the law should stay as it is, and that if wine were sold at supermarkets it would increase alcohol access to minors and increase drunk driving.

Steve Medeiros owns Mack’s Liquor Mart in Geddes, and he says if this proposal were to go through it would cost him his business.

“It would just put us under right there -- 70 percent of my business is wine,” he says.

Mike Farrugia, owner of four Big M stores, disagrees.

“We’d put them out? It would make them better. Competition made me better, whether it be Wal-Mart or other competition in our area,” says Farrugia.

Farrugia says it will increase business for wineries, placing their product in more places.
 
Medeiros, though, argues that having wine at supermarkets adds more convenience for shoppers -- so why make a second stop for wine at a liquor store?

“There are 35 other states that do this -- it wouldn’t be unique to New York,” says Farrugia.

Medeiros hopes New York doesn’t become number 36.

A decision could come this spring, when the state legislature adopts the new budget.

CLICK HERE to see the petition from local liquor store owners asking Governor Paterson to reconsider his proposal.