After Years, Wine in Supermarkets Advances in Senate

Liquor store owners and other interested parties watch a committee hearing from outside. Photo credit Blake Farmer/WPLN

A measure allowing wine to be sold in Tennessee grocery stores is now closer to becoming law than ever before. The legislation was approved on a 5-4 vote in a Senate Committee.

After years of debate, some members say their decision was only made a few hours prior.

Senator Reginald Tate of Memphis tipped the balance. Personally, he says he’d rather not make liquor stores compete with supermarkets. But he says his constituents seem to favor the added convenience.

“The only way I could resolve it was to let them vote on it themselves.”

The legislation allows each city and town to hold a referendum as early as next year.

The wine in supermarkets bill has been one of the most heavily-lobbied this year. Overflowing committee rooms have been packed with people from Publix and Kroger who cheered the favorable decision. Liquor store owners like Romulus Hammond are already feeling defeated.

“It’s a done deal right there.”

However, expanding wine sales still has several committee hurdles and votes in the full House and Senate.