Proposed bill in Tennessee would allow any store to sell wine if it derives at least 20% of its sales from groceries, have retail space of at least 2,000 sq. ft.

Nevin Barich

NASHVILLE, Tennessee , January 28, 2014 (Associated Press) – Any store deriving at least 20 percent of its sales from groceries could qualify to sell wine under the latest proposal before Tennessee lawmakers.

The bill would also require stores to have a retail space of at least 2,000 square feet and set July 1, 2016, as the earliest date that supermarkets and convenience stores could sell wine. Existing package stores would also be allowed to sell non-liquor items like beer, cigarettes, snacks and ice.

The House State Government Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the measure sponsored by Republican Reps. Ryan Haynes of Knoxville, Jon Lundberg of Bristol and House Speaker Beth Harwell of Nashville.

A separate bill would set up the mechanism for holding a local referendum on whether to allow supermarket wine sales.

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