LOUISVILLE (WAVE) — When you buy groceries in Kentucky, you can grab some beer, but most stores are not allowed to sell wine. That could change, but WAVE 3’s Elizabeth Donatelli reports that not everyone supports the idea.
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Bill to allow wine sales in Kentucky groceries proposed
By Elizabeth Donatelli
LOUISVILLE (WAVE) — When you buy groceries in Kentucky, you can grab some beer, but most stores are not allowed to sell wine. That could change, but WAVE 3’s Elizabeth Donatelli reports that not everyone supports the idea.
Grocery stores in Kentucky have been selling beer as far back as most can remember, but now may be adding wine to that aisle.
“I don’t consider it a hard liquor and I don’t consider it much different than beer or a wine cooler,” said shopper Theresa Hughes.
She also liked the convenience of buying wine at the same place she picks up her food.
At Kroger stores in other states, wine is the second fastest growing product behind bottled water. Those supporting the bill say giving consumers more places to buy Kentucky wine will improve the state’s industry and bring money into the economy.
“The groceries for their part will generate $55 million in a 5-year period so this is really going to help tax revenue,” said Eddie O’Daniel of the Kentucky Winery Association.
One liquor storeowner disagrees and says it will oversaturate the market, drive some out of business, and take money out of the state.
“National corporations all headquartered outside the state of the Kentucky, going to their shareholders so that the real revenue stream is going to leave Kentucky,” said Kevin Schweitzer, owner of Liquor World.
They are also concerned about minors’ access to the wine. Kroger trains its employees how to sell liquor and only those 20 or up can do so, but dedicated liquor stores are required to have stricter policies.
“They don’t want to restrict their stores to people who are over the age of 21,” said Roger Lee Leasor, owner of Liquor Barn. “We do that. At Liquor Barn, you have to be over the age of 21 or with your parents or you can’t be in the store. Can you imagine Kroger doing that?”
We asked and they won’t limit access to the store or aisle.
“Whatever law exists right now for the sale of beer would also take precedent here,” said Luke Schmidt of the Food with Wine Coalition.
A spokesperson for the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control says the department neither supports nor rejects the bill, but did say because grocery stores carry beer, it will not create additional work as they are already inspected on a regular basis.