TN Senate approves wine-in-grocery stores bill

(Tennessean) - The Tennessee Senate voted 23-8 Thursday morning to approve a bill that would let grocery stores, big-box retailers and convenience stores sell wine, largely following a plan put forward by the state House of Representatives earlier this week.

After seven years of debate, senators agreed to legislation that would let voters in 49 counties decide as soon as this November to determine whether to allow wine on their grocery store aisles. But retailers would not be able to start selling wine until July 1, 2016, a transition period meant to give liquor stores time to adjust to the shift in Tennessee’s liquor laws.

The Senate vote does not send wine-in-grocery stores legislation to Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk. The House still must approve a companion measure, and there are subtle differences between the two plans.

But the vote Thursday morning nonetheless represented a major victory for proponents of wine in grocery stores, who have fought the liquor industry for nearly a decade to force changes to the state’s alcohol laws.

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Bill Ketron, said his primary feeling was relief as the votes were tallied, after awakening in the early morning hours several times this week fearful his measure would fail.

“In the end, I think (senators) saw that’s what the people want,” said Ketron, R-Murfreesboro.