Council hears opposition to selling wine in grocery stores

 A plan to allow of the sale of wine in grocery stores will cause more drunk-driving accidents, hurt state wineries and put many liquor stores out of business, opponents argued today.

More than two dozen representatives from the liquor industry attended a City Hall public hearing held this afternoon by the Common Council's Legislation Committee.

Five speakers expressed their opposition to the revenue-raising plan, while one speaker argued that grocery stores and supermarkets should have a right to sell wine.

No representatives from the food industry spoke at the hearing. The proposal is backed by the Food Industry Alliance, Tops Markets and Wegmans.

The Common Council is expected to adopt a resolution next week opposing the state's quest to raise $159 million over three years in fees from stores that likely would jump into the wine market.

The Erie County Legislature already has passed a resolution that expresses opposition to the proposal.