Bill would let grocery stores sell beer, wine

  DOVER -- Legislation that would allow grocery stores in Delaware to sell beer and wine was introduced in the state House this afternoon.

House Bill 193, sponsored by Rep. John J. Viola, D-Newark, has the potential to raise $10 million in its first year, through the new class of alcohol license it would create: a license with a one-time fee of $100,000 per store. There would be a biennial renewal fee of $5,000.

Convenience stores would be dealt out of the bill, which would authorize beer and wine sales only in stores with more than 6,000 square feet and whose primary business is selling food. At least 90 percent of the sales would have to be food that is not immediately consumable -- frozen foods, canned goods and the like.

Delaware is one of just five states that do not allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery or convenience stores, according to information compiled by the Beer Institute, an industry trade group.

The bill is sure to stir opposition from package-store owners, who currently have a monopoly on alcohol sales in Delaware. Viola, though, contended that the bill would put no one out of business.

Viola said that he, as a consumer, might pick up a bottle of wine as a spur-of-the-moment purchase when he drops by a grocery store, but that he would continue to patronize package stores that have certain wines that he likes and that might not be available at a grocery store.

The bill would require a separate checkout line for people making beer or wine purchases, and the cashiers staffing those lines would have to be at least 18 years old. Groceries selling beer and wine could only sell it during the same hours that package stores are permitted to remain open. Distilled spirits would continue to be sold in package stores only.

HB 198 was assigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee, which Viola chairs.