Liquor Stores Uninterested in Negotiating Away Wine

Liquor stores say concessions for wine sales have been too small. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Liquor retailers, supermarkets and convenience stores gathered in one room at the state capitol to negotiate a deal on wine sales. But there was little headway.

Lawmakers who want to get wine on grocery store shelves have offered all kinds of concessions, like letting liquor stores sell something other than alcohol and have multiple locations. At this point, wine and spirits retailers remain reluctant to release their best seller, says lobbyist David McMahan.

“Proposals that our industry have heard have been mere crumbs compared to the potential revenue loss of their wine sales.”

A special panel in the state senate considered amendments to a bill that would allow wine in supermarkets if approved by local referendum. But there’s now little effort being put toward finalizing an agreement because the companion legislation is all but dead in the House.