NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey thinks 2014 will be the year when the state will finally lift the prohibition against the sale of wine in grocery stores and convenience stores, the Associated Press reports.

The lawmaker said the outcry over the bill’s death in a House committee surprised fellow legislators. House Local Government Chairman Matthew Hill flip-flopped on his earlier support and voted to kill the measure.

“The debacle that happened in the House with the change of the vote at the last minute I think actually helped,” said Ramsey. “There were several senators that may have been sitting on the fence and saw the reaction that came from that and they realized that now they're going to be for it in some form.”

Tennessee law prohibits grocery stores and convenience stores from stocking any beer stronger than 5% by weight. Liquor stores are the only places that can sell stronger alcohol.

Supporters of a change want to bring the matter before local voters, who would approve or disapprove of allowing wine sales outside of liquor stores—but only in communities that already let liquor be sold by the drink and in retail package stores. Statewide, public support of the bill has gained ground. Even the beer industry, which has long been opposed to such a change, has stated its approval of the change, as long as stronger beer may be sold in other outlets beyond liquor stores.