Beer Industry Switches Sides on Tennessee Wine Bill

Brewers are supporting the measure, which would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell wine.

March 13, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The beer industry has done an about-face on the issue of wine sales in supermarkets and convenience stores, the Times News reports. Brewers now support a bill, as long as the proposal is amended to include strong beer.

"If the marketplace is going to change where regular beer and wine are sold side-by-side on a grocery store shelf, high-gravity beer should be, too," said Rich Foge, president of the Tennessee Malt Beverage Association, which no longer opposes the proposed change.

After several years of rejection, the bill is gaining ground with state Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell both prioritizing the passage of this measure, which would let localities that currently have liquor sales to hold referendums on the sale of wine in grocery and convenience stores.

Tennessee law only allows those retailers to stock beer under 5% by volume; anything stronger, has to be purchased in a liquor store.

The support for the bill by the two speakers spurred the association to remove its opposition. "We had a long discussion about it and one of things that got serious consideration is that the speakers of both chambers urged the parties to come to the table," said Foge. "And we??re heeding that advice."

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