OPINION

Wine in food stores now up to voters

Melissa Eads

Few legislative campaigns have been as hard-fought over a longer period of time with more compromising than the one to allow wine sales in retail food stores. Now, after seven years of debate, voters in 78 municipalities — including Metro Nashville, Goodlettsville, Brentwood and Franklin — will finally have the chance to vote on the issue.

Those of us who have been involved in the Red White and Food campaign since its inception are proud of the support that so many people across the state have shown for giving Tennessee grocery shoppers the same option that consumers in 36 other states have: to purchase wine while buying their food.

They contacted their legislators, came to meetings, joined the Red White and Food coalition, and urged their friends to do so. And 262,247 of them signed petitions in localities across the state this summer authorizing the wine question to appear on local ballots.

The petition drive was not the end of the campaign. Kroger and its retail partners across the state are encouraging customers to vote for wine during early voting, which started Oct. 15 and ends Oct. 31, or on Election Day, Nov. 4. It’s important that voters read the entire ballot, as the wine question does not appear until the end of the ballot — meaning you could miss it if you don’t look past the constitutional amendments and the local House and Senate races.

Over the past few weeks, consumers have seen and heard television and radio advertisements encouraging Tennesseans to vote for wine in retail food stores. It is our hope that these advertisements educate supporters about the fact that this campaign is not over until they have voted.

It’s worth recapping some of the highlights of the bill that was passed by the legislature this spring. In addition to giving Tennesseans the right to vote on where wine can be sold in their communities, the bill — which was a true compromise between liquor stores and retail food stores — included the following measures:

• Liquor stores can sell beer, tobacco, food items and party supplies as of July 1, 2014 — a two-year head start from the July 1, 2016, date when you will see wine on the shelves of your local grocery store.

• Liquor store owners can now own more than one store.

• All retail outlets that sell alcohol must participate in mandatory carding and the state’s responsible vendor program to help prevent the sale of alcohol to minors. Retail food stores have participated in both programs since 2006.

• In order to sell wine, retail food stores must have food sales equal to 20 percent of total taxable sales and be 1,200 square feet or larger.

Thirty-six other states already allow the sale of wine in retail food stores. In these states, liquor stores and food stores co-exist, with competition driving the market. We are certain that our grocery customers will continue to shop at their favorite liquor store even after wine is available in our stores.

We’re excited to put an end to seven years of debate and to finally put the wine in retail food stores question in front of Tennessee voters. Please vote for wine on Nov. 4.

Melissa Eads is the marketing and public relations manager for the Nashville Division of Kroger.