Should Tennessee lawmakers allow wine sales in grocery stores?

If your only argument is that kids will purchase wine then maybe parents should do better at teaching their children right from wrong. If kids want to obtain liquor they will, it is the parents responsibility to teach them that they should not drink until they are of age. It should be up to an adult if they want to drink and it should be as available as beer. There are plenty of states that allow wine in grocery stores that the liquor stores flourish.

The argument that it will run liquor stores out of business is false. Most people opossed to wine in liquor stores are just against drinking!

First I agree with a previous comment that the TN goverment has bigger fish to fry than changing a method of selling wine that is currently working.

Next, I am for alcholic sales. I am not one of those that claim any change in method of selling or allowing selling of alcholic beverages is morrally wrong or will increase crime.

The main reason I am against the change is that the current system supports hundred if not thousands of small businesses across TN. A change in to selling in grocery stores will remove a large portion of the sells and profits from these small stores of which most are individually owned. Could these small businesses survive a large hit to their sales and profits? I say most would fail.

I am from NC where sales of beer and wine is in retail outlets such as grocery and convinent stores. Liquor is sold and controlled by the state through state owned ABC stores. This works for NC. In TN, we have had a method of selling through small business and that has worked for TN.

The lawmakers in Nashville need to spend there time finding ways to encourage business, especially small business, and get the economy of TN moving forward. It should not move more of the business from small locally owned stores to Wal-Mart.

beer & wine is fine, but liquor is quicker. give me a bottle of tennessee made jack daniels!!!!!!!

As a hard-core conservative, I'd like to see our legislature working 20 hours days passing laws to help our citizens and capitalist entrepreneurs.

Let our lawmakers work as hard as the rest of us for a change. I've worked no less than 60 hours a week for years, and many 75+ hour weeks.

Stay on track, with what matters!

The current wine sales laws are fine, maybe at some point they should be revisited, but for now, lets stay focused on helping businesses large and small thrive!

People need jobs, not easier access to wine!

BTW, if business doesn't thrive, families don't thrive.

Respectfully,
Your local right wing, freedom loving nut.

1st off, this poll is not "rigged". Maybe some people just WISHED it was. So, go ahead and keep making excusses of why the numbers are what they are. Thats bull

2nd, I vote yes as well. I think it is about time that we are able to but wine at the grocery store instead of having to go elsewhere to get it. I love the point of Mellissa (above). Pick me up wine while your getting the beer !!!! Thats GREAT!!!!

I think the poll is rigged. Seven coworkers and myself have voted but it won't count our votes against wine in grocery stores while at the same time it is tallying votes for the referendum. Several of us went home and tried from our home computers and it want count those either.
I guess the station has made up their mind from the article and controlling the outcome of the poll. What ever happened to truthfulness in journalism. If they are doing what we suspect they are a disgrace to their profession.

come on Tennessee!

it's bad out there. and in this time of economic hardship, why are we even considering this? honestly. because it's more "convienant" for the customer? i'm just saying...grocery stores aren't a one-stop shop for everyone..there's going to be SOMETHING you can't get there. and that's what keep's the wheels turning. and you know..it doesn't need to be convienant. owners of liquor stores have perfected their art; they know every detail about wines, where they come from, which one goes great with specific foods, etc. also, customers are more closely monitored and attended to, and in situations where alcohol is involved, this is a beautiful thing.

wine is not a need, people don't have to have it, so why does it even matter if it's sold in grocery stores? it shouldn't! a cheaper version is sold in boxes at groceries. liquor stores are like boutiques in the sense that they both offer something unique, special, and give customers more attention.

what's next? prada on aisle 3? porn sold next to the Harry Potter series? come on, guys. let's keep these people in business. it's not hurting anyone to drive an extra 5 or so minutes to get to a liquor store. and if it is, then it's honestly not worth it!

This not a moral issue. This is a law that could put 1,000 of people out of a job. The wine industry provides many jobs for people in Tennessee and also helps to promote and protect the quality of wine sold in your area.

Well if they sell wine in grocery store it will hurt the small liquor businesses and think about it most of the people working in grocery stores would not know the difference between a good bottle of wine and a cheap boxed wine. Liquor stores get paid to know what they are talking about.

One thing I have personally found in states like Alabama, Ohio, and others that have wine in grocery stores, is that the liquor prices are about 30% higher.
On a recent trip to Alabama, I paid $33.00 for a .750 of Absolut vodka as opposed to about $22.00 here in Tennessee. I checked several stores and found the same high prices. A .750 of Crown Royal runs about $36.00 and can be found here for about $24.00. I have encountered the same in any state I've been to that has wine in grocery stores. I was told by the staff at these stores that they have to charge more to make up for the loss of wine sales.

It seems to me that the controversy here lies in the morals associated with more freely accessible alcohol. Yet to me, if the government’s involvement with how and where you can get your alcohol in any way threatens your morals, then you need to completely reevaluate your commitment to those morals. I know this is the Bible belt but think logically for one moment. Scientifically this question is irrelevant. Any country that holds it’s self to be a land of freedom would not have to battle tooth and nail on such petty grievances that deny such freedoms. And in the Christian defense, God never said life would be a cake walk, in fact, one of the biggest themes of the bible are the trials and tribulations. One cannot know how strong their faith is unless they have walked through the fire and have been persecuted and tested on all sides and still come out believing. To hide and shield yourself from temptation will not build your faith. In fact, fearing temptation is only a sign of weakness against your faith. You must be able to stand face to face with temptation and not give in. That is a true Christian. So can’t we all get along? Let the people do what they will. Their laws do not compromise your morals, that’s why there called YOUR morals. And if they do, then what kind of morals do you have?

Replace the tobacco section with a wine section and watch sales climb.

WINE IS SOLD IN GA. IN GROCERY STORES. IS TN. GOING TO REMAIN BEHIND ALMOST EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTY? MORE THAN LIKELY.

It seems to me that wine and dinner has been part of a social class from the Romans to the food network. I believe if someone is going to buy any form of of alcohol to drink while driving it would be a easy open can of beer rather than a corked bottle of wine. I see a higher class of users buying to have with dinner rather than DUI. I support the sell of wine in grocery stores and convent stores. Why it has taken Tennessee to catch up with other states is a mystery to me.

You can buy wine at the restaurants by the glass so why not be able to buy wine at the grocery. It is doen that way in other states and It hasn't caused any other issues.

What's the difference between wine and beer? Nothing really. Both can get you drunk. If beer is legal then why shouldn't wine be? I would rather drink wine than beer anyday.

Beer? Wine? If you like it buy it. If you don't like it don't buy it. I don't drink but I think that anyone who does should be able to buy it. If they abuse it, throw the book at them. We're adults.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENTS BETWEEN SELLING WINE WHEN THEY SELL BEER I WOULD LOVE TO TELL MY SPOUSE WHEN HE IS GOING TO THE STORE TO BUY BEER TO BUY SOME WINE FOR ME .