Kentucky Grocers Press on With Wine Sales

LOUISVILLE, KY – Currently, the Blue Grass State is one of 16 states where residents cannot purchase wine in grocery stores, but Kentucky retailers are attempting to change that—again, WLKY.com reports.

Once more, a bill will be introduced during the next Kentucky General Assembly that would allow grocery stores to sell wine. Three previous tries failed.

Supporters of wine in supermarkets pointed to the added benefits of more jobs and more tax money flowing into the commonwealth. “We project that in the first two years, once the law is implemented, the state will realize tax revenue of $30.1 million,” said Luke Schmidt of the Food with Wine Coalition. “Over the first five years, that will go to $83.8 million.”

The liquor stores have registered their opposition to such a bill—again. Liquor World owner Kevin Schweitzer said the figures presented by Food with Wine do not consider jobs and taxes lost if liquor stores lose business to grocery stores.

“Obviously, if that oversaturation were to occur, lots of Kentucky businesses would be at risk, many would close, with the corresponding number of lost taxes and lost jobs for the state of Kentucky,” said Schweitzer.

“If we want the wine industry to grow in the state of Kentucky, we need to have more outlets to sell it,” countered Kentucky vintner Curtis Sigretto, a member of the coalition.