Wine in the store: Yes or no?

Posted Monday, March 16, 2009, at 2:54 PM

Tennessee lawmakers are discussing whether to allow wine sales in grocery stores.

Walk down the beer aisle at any market and ask yourself if adding wine to the mix is really going to make any difference.

The whole issue revolves around the state's wholesale distributors, which follow state laws that ban beer from liquor stores and wine from grocery stores.

Some may argue easier distribution of wine will increase problem drinking. Realistically, alcohol -- and the type of drinks more likely to cause binge drinking -- are already all over the place.

Could it be that some state lawmakers are just protecting a group of manufacturers and wholesalers that pump massive amounts of dollars into political campaigns?

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

Many states allow all types of alcohol to be sold in grocery stores. But do not underestimate the power of the liquer lobby in Tn. As you state, beer is already in stores, and wine is a natural compliment to food. How many young people drink wine? Not many, as they drink beer. Our system in Tn is out of date and needs changing, but I hold no illusion it will happen anytime soon.

-- Posted by Chef Boy R.D. on Mon, Mar 16, 2009, at 4:03 PM

We have wine and beer sales in grocerys in GA. I don't think we have more drunks than other states.

-- Posted by jim8377 on Mon, Mar 16, 2009, at 7:20 PM

Personally I think it is a good idea. I do not think it will be a problem kids aren't much of wine drinkers. Although I do remember a time when I was a kid I got stinking drunk on Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill Wine it was the sickest I have ever been in my life in fact I can not stand even to smell wine because of it and I didn't get it at a grocery store.

-- Posted by Dianatn on Mon, Mar 16, 2009, at 8:33 PM

I think they should sell wine in grocery stores . . . I mean they sell beer already so why not!

-- Posted by jaxspike on Mon, Mar 16, 2009, at 9:33 PM

Dianatn - maybe it's a girl thing, but I've been exceptionally drunk on the very same Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill wine, and I wasn't 21 yet either - and I was also very sick afterwards!

Oh, and yes, they should sell wine at grocery stores. Trader Joe's and World Market sell some pretty good wines in other states.

-- Posted by cfrich on Mon, Mar 16, 2009, at 10:02 PM

Yes, I think they need to start selling wine in the grocery stores. I was in Florida for vacation this past summer, and it was quite nice being able to choose a wine for the meals we were planing. Without having making an extra stop at another store.

-- Posted by docudrama on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 2:58 AM

I think it is a great idea. I lived in Florida,where they sell wine in Grocery stores, and it is FABULOUS!

Also, I think it will increase tax revenue for the state of TN because more people will buy wine for their dinner parties, if it is convenient to pick it up in the grocery store when they are shopping instead of going out of their way to a liquor store.

-- Posted by Amanda Flynn on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 8:32 AM

I don't think it matters one way or another.

They sell beer already and other states sell wine in Grocery stores.

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 9:12 AM

Boone's is a malt beverage. I "thought" it could be sold at Kroger & Wally World. It is just like Wine Coolers & Mike's Hard Lemonade. Needless to say, I do not know for sure since I am not a fan of it, but I have had a sip or 2.

Not a shock that some have had a problem holding Boone's down. It is too sweet and too heavy to consume a whole bottle in one night.

I think that since we can go to Chili's, Ruby Tuesday and Legends to get all 4; booze, beer, wine & food, then what is the harm to sell all of them in one spot like Kroger? They can have a special section & register like they do at Wal-Mart for seasonal and garden center.

I do know that places like Thompson's Package store would be hurt, so I would be happy if they just let wine be sold at Kroger, Wally World & Food Lion.

The last thing we need to do is hurt more local/ small town stores. No matter what they sell.

-- Posted by UVilleGators on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 10:58 PM

Yep, sell the wine, no reason not to. Silly that I have to go to a liquor store to get it now.

-- Posted by ClarkDV on Thu, Mar 19, 2009, at 12:14 AM

I wonder if the grocery stores,etc. will want to get the expertise a professional wineseller or vitner has.

People might wind up with a lowest common denominator version of any category of goods if one type of store tries to sell everything.

(It would be the whole "jack-of-all-trades,master of none" phenomenon at work.)

I know that some "everything" stores have brought in special clerks for meat,bakery,deli,pharmacies,

photo studios,eyewear,fabric,hardware,electronics, jewelry and automotive but at what point might we get a person working toys on Thursday,produce on Saturday and offering landscaping hints on Monday?

I'd like the convenience of one-stop shopping but,in addition to wanting to support the independent retailers,I'd want to seek wine from someone who'd know which vintages were "blowsy" or "creamy".

I do well to know what color a rose' is or how to tell a Pinot Noir from a Chardonnay.

I'd like to rely on someone who could tell me what cheeses would complement a certain vintage (or if I can open the bottle without a corkscrew.)

-- Posted by quantumcat on Wed, Mar 25, 2009, at 12:14 AM

David Melson

- Recent posts
- Archives
- Blog RSS feed

- Comments RSS feed

- Login

David Melson is a copy editor and staff writer for the Times-Gazette.

Hot topics

Picturing the Past 184: Hootenanny lineup
(6 ~ 6:22 PM, May 19)

Picturing the Past 92: Stopping by Parks-Belk
(20 ~ 6:57 PM, May 14)

"Ag-gag" bill full of problems
(1 ~ 9:26 PM, May 13)

Picturing the Past 183: Square in 1965
(10 ~ 11:09 AM, May 7)

Speeding drivers on the loose
(8 ~ 10:06 PM, Apr 27)

Home