Louisville, Kentucky (March 4, 2008) – The Kentucky Wineries Association and the Food with Wine Coalition responded today to misleading statements made by liquor store owners during a press conference held by the two organizations yesterday in Louisville. The statements were made in opposition to House Bill 585, a measure which, if passed, will revise existing Kentucky law to allow grocery stores to sell wine in counties where package alcohol sales are currently allowed.

Kentucky Wineries Association, Food with Wine Coalition Respond to Misleading Statements Made by Liquor Store Owners

During the press conference yesterday, several liquor store owners stated that grocery stores would have an unfair advantage if HB 585 passes due to the fact that liquor store employees are “required” to be 21 years of age and that grocery store employees do not have such an age requirement and as such, 18 year olds would be allowed to sell wine.

Luke B. Schmidt, consultant to the Food with Wine Coalition stated, “This statement simply isn’t true. Current Kentucky law (KRS 244.087) specifically permits a person that is at least 18 years old to “stock, arrange displays, accept payment for and sack malt beverages, under the supervision of a person 20 years of age or older,” with no distinction made as to type of store.”

“Furthermore, existing law and regulation (KRS 244.090 and 804 KAR 5:030) clearly states that a person must be 20 years old in order to sell wine,” commented Schmidt. “This provision covers grocery stores that today sell beer and it will apply when grocery stores are allowed to sell wine.”

Bottom line: today 18 and 19 year olds are not allowed to sell wine and HB 585 will not allow individuals less than 20 years of age to sell wine in the future.

House Bill 585 simply seeks to create a new license which will allow grocery stores to sell wine. House Bill 585 in no way amends existing law with respect to who can sell wine in any type of outlet. House Bill 585 does not contain any language concerning the age of a person who sells wine.

Other recent and misleading statements made by liquor store owners include:

The grocery store industry seeks to modify or dissolve the current three tier distributor system

According to Eddie O’Daniel, President of the Kentucky Wineries Association, “Absolutely none of the language in HB 585 calls for any type of modification or elimination of the existing farm to market distribution system for wine. The existing system serves the needs of the market and we are not seeking to make any changes whatsoever.”

House Bill 585 will allow wine to be sold in dry counties

The Food with Wine Coalition and the Kentucky Wineries Association respect Kentucky’s long-standing tradition of local option. Simply put, nothing in HB 585 would allow for the sale of wine in any dry county. Only the voters in counties which are presently dry can change the status of the county through a local option election. HB 585 will allow the sale of wine in grocery stores only in counties which currently allow the sale of alcoholic beverages by the package.

The passage of HB 585 will bring many benefits to the Commonwealth, including increased demand for Kentucky-grown grapes and Kentucky-produced wine, and, increased tax revenue in the amount of $55 million over the first five years once the law has been enacted. Kentucky’s food stores are ready to do their part to promote and sell Kentucky-produced wine in grocery stores in counties which allow the sale of alcoholic beverages by the package.

The passage of HB 585 will open up competition for consumers and eliminate the monopoly that liquor stores currently enjoy when it comes to selling wine.

Luke B. Schmidt stated, “Consumers have asked time and time again for the opportunity to purchase wine in grocery stores to pair with their favorite foods. Consumers benefit when they have more choices. Kentucky’s grocery stores welcome the opportunity to compete for the consumer’s dollar with liquor stores.”

The Kentucky Wineries Association is a not for profit organization that was established in 2007. The Association’s members include 11 of Kentucky’s leading wineries which produce approximately 75% of all wine made in the Commonwealth. The Association is developing a comprehensive marketing campaign which will include a new Web site in the near future.

The Food with Wine Coalition is a not for profit organization that was established in 2007 by Kentucky’s grocery store industry. The Coalition’s purpose is to educate and inform those living in Kentucky as to the advantages of allowing grocery stores to sell wine in counties which allow the sale of alcoholic beverages by the package. Interested parties are invited to learn more about the issue by visiting the Coalition’s Web site (www.foodwithwine.org).

Note: members of the media may obtain an electronic version of the Food with Wine Coalition’s logo and the Kentucky Wineries Association logo by contacting Luke Schmidt (502.292.2898 or via electronic mail, lbschmidt@lbschmidt.com).