Year’s First Public Bill Signing For Haslam: Wine In Supermarkets

On Thursday, Governor Bill Haslam signed legislation allowing wine to be sold in grocery stores. Credit: TN Photo Services

A proposal allowing wine to be sold in grocery stores got special treatment at the state capitol Thursday. Governor Bill Haslam held his first public bill signing of the year.

He primarily let legislators take the spotlight. People like State Senator Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro have been working for years to get wine in grocery stores. Haslam says he hasn’t had a strong opinion on the matter.

“At this point in my life, I’m not spending a whole lot of time in grocery stores anyway. I eat at a lot of banquets.”

It will still be two years before wine shows up on supermarket shelves, and it won’t be everywhere. Just like liquor sales, communities have to vote by referendum to allow wine in grocery stores.