By Joel Davis
of The Daily Times Staff
Originally Published at TheDailyTimes.com

The Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association is pushing a bill that would allow retail food stores to sell wine, but at least one Blount County lawmaker isn’t sure if the proposal will go anywhere this session.

Senate Bill 3139, sponsored by state Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, would allow retail food stores to sell wine. Currently, only liquor stores are allowed to do so. Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association President Jarron Springer said his group’s initiative is consumer-driven.

“Consumer choice has been our focus from day one,” Springer said.

A press release from the association indicates the Senate State and Local Government Committee has scheduled a hearing on the legislation for Tuesday, but staff at Ketron’s office were not able to confirm this.

State Rep. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville, was not aware the bill was moving.

“As you walk the hallways, I had picked up the impression that it wasn’t going to be moving this year,” he said. “It’s one of those bills that tends to get filed every year and generates some discussion.”

Overbey said he would listen carefully to debate about the bill before making a decision on his vote, adding some members of the public felt it should be allowed because other states allow it.

“On the other hand, just because it’s done in another state doesn’t necessarily mean it is the direction that Tennessee ought to go. I’ve heard concerns expressed about whether it makes alcohol more available or accessible to underage folks. I’ve also heard concerns expressed because recently Maryville and Alcoa have voted to allow liquor stores and those (business people) have made capital investment in our communities.”

Creekside Fine Wines and Spirits, 2017 E. Broadway in Maryville, is one of those local businesses. Manager Ed Forton said he wasn’t in favor of allowing the additional competition, but that liquor stores could compete on a basis of quality.

“If that were to take place, which we don’t believe it will, you’re going to have grocery-store quality wines in grocery stores,” Forton said. “We can supply that kind of product, but we also have the ability to get virtually anything that’s available on the market and allow the customer to experience greater quality for the same amount of money you’re going to pay for grocery store wine. We’d like for it not to happen because additional competition is taking customers out of our store, but I believe you’re only going to get your low-end products in the grocery stores anyway.”

State Sen. Raymond Finney, R-Maryville, said he hasn’t made a decision yet on how he might vote on the bill.

“I haven’t read the bill,” Finney said. “It’s an extremely busy time of the year, and I just haven’t had a chance to read and study the bills yet, but I will do so in a timely manner. I will make the decision after I read the bills.”

Originally published: March 20. 2008 3:01AM

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 20th, 2008 at 1:51 pm and is filed under In The News.
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