Albany budget plan keeps wine sales in liquor stores

The Albany agreement on a 2009-10 budget eliminated a proposal to allow the sale of wine in supermarkets and other stores, a measure intended to help close the mounting state deficit.

The move was applauded by independent liquor and wine store owners even as it was denounced by supporters of the proposal.

"We're feeling very optimistic," said Michael McKeon, spokesman for Last Store on Main Street, a coalition for liquor and wine store associations created to fight the proposal. "The legislature has decided to save small businesses as opposed to giving more big bucks to big box stores."

Supporters of the proposal said the decision will cost New Yorkers millions of dollars in added revenue that would have been generated by licensing and other fees.

"The money that this could generate is the equivalent of retaining 4,000 state employees that now could be laid off," said David Vermillion, spokesman for a coalition supporting the change.

In New York, selling wine is the province of independent liquor store owners. The proposal would have extended wine sales to any business that sells beer.

New York is one of 15 states that doesn't allow sale of wine outside of liquor stores, according to The Associated Press.

In wine shops yesterday, the reaction was divided.

"I grew up in Europe, where you can buy wine anywhere you want, including supermarkets ..." said Greenlawn resident Pascal Pestour, 50, as he shopped at Stew Leonard's Wines of Farmingdale. "Everybody should be able to sell whatever they want everywhere. It's a free market."

But Catherine Montalvo, 19, a cashier at Liquor Plaza in Huntington Station, defended the value of the current practice. "You aren't going to have somebody at a grocery store that knows the wines," she said, "while over here, we know our supplies and merchandise."

At one Long Island winery, the owner said he was pleased the proposal had been defeated.

"I've always been in favor of supporting the liquor stores," said Ron Goerler, owner of Jamesport Vineyards. "Liquor stores have supported me from day one."

McKeon said local wineries had opposed the change.