After five years, the push to get wine in Tennessee grocery stores may have a very real chance of succeeding. There's new leadership and a new governor at the Capitol who will have a say in the issue. Gov. Bill Haslam told Channel 4 News it's a debate he'll stay out of and let lawmakers decide.
Bill Bryant said he's afraid a change in the law would take away a lot of his customers at Nashville Wine & Spirits and force him to reduce his staff. "I think if wine is sold in grocery stores, it will reduce our business by 30 percent," Bryant said.
Those against the change say wine in grocery stores will cripple small Tennessee businesses and add profits to big out-of-state grocery chains. Some argue with wine available more places, there would be more street and underage drinkers.
But those pushing for the change said a new law would create more jobs because the wine market would grow. They said it'll be more convenient for customers and that more than 30 other states allow wine in grocery stores.
This year, the Republican lawmakers sponsoring the bill have made some changes they feel will benefit business owners by allowing them to sell other products, such as wine glasses, own more than one location, have tastings and sponsor alcoholic beverages for nonprofit groups.
But Bryant said he doesn't consider it a compromise. "I think those things are not really significant from my standpoint," he said. This bill has been filed in both the House and Senate and is being sponsored by Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro and Rep. John Lundberg of Bristol.
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