Governor Signs Wine in Grocery Store “Fix” and Imposes 2 Store Cap on Retail Liquor Stores

Tennessee Governor Bill Hallam signed SB2094 into law this week. The controversial bill fixed a technical issue with wine in grocery stores, which we affectionately call WIGS, but also capped ownership of retail liquor stores to 2 stores.

We blogged about the bill here and the 2 store controversy here.  The bill is an important fix to make it possible for wine to actually be available for sale in groceries come July 1.

The legislation is now law.

We have already heard some grumbling about the two store limit from a couple of local liquor store owners.  We hear that one owner has invested quite a bit in two stores set to open soon, but the ABC refused to put the applications on the ABC agenda because of the two store cap.  We expect that other local owners will lament the cap and encourage folks to contact us if you are impacted.

Retail liquor store owners are also following SB0844, which included a provision that removed the 500 foot distance requirement between grocers and retail liquor stores that did not elect to sell beer and other items.  An amendment passed this week in the House deleted the section, which has the effect of reimposing the 500 foot restriction.

Although only applicable to a few stores, the 500 foot restriction was an important part of the WIGS compromise.  We are watching this with considerable interest.

Bruno Mars tune “Liquor Store Blues” seems timely:

‘Cause my job got me going nowhere,
So I ain’t got a thing to lose.
Take me to a place where I don’t care,
This is me and my liquor store blues.

Source: WIGS Law