The debate over allowing wine sales in grocery stores in New York continues as lawmakers push for legislation that local liquor store owners say could devastate their businesses.
Lawmakers have been trying to allow wine sales in grocery stores for nearly 20 years. Local liquor and wine stores have always pushed back, saying it would cut off a major part of their sales.
News10NBC’s Tom Kowalski spoke with store owners and customers about their thoughts. According to two stores he spoke with, wine makes up about half their total sales.
“You know, half of our business is wine. So if we were to get more competition, then obviously a majority of our sales would be lost,” Frederick Squicciarini said.
Squicciarini’s wife just bought the former Malcho’s Wine & Spirits in Webster last week. He says if grocery stores like Wegmans began selling wines, it would take a massive chunk out of the newly renamed Ruthie’s Liquor Store.
“The government has sold me a license to sell a particular product. Obviously, knowing that, you know, there is competition and they’re very strict on how close you can open another liquor store for an existing store for a very good reason. Opening up wine sales to grocery stores — well, there’s probably more grocery stores than there are liquor stores. It would really destroy our business,” Squicciarini said.
Nelson Habecker, owner of East Avenue Liquor Store in Rochester, echoed the same concern.
“Dollar for dollar, it’s like a 50/50 thing, but for volume, most of our sales are wine. A smaller amount in spirit. Spirits, of course, are much more expensive. So spirits make up half your revenue. But it’s the wine that really keeps us in business,” Habecker said.
Despite store owner concerns, several customers said they’d support the potential new law. Jeff Cellini, a grocery customer, said he enjoys drinking wine.
“So the more competition out there, the more likely you are to get a better choice of wines in the area,” Cellini said.
Dale Hampton, a resident, agreed. Carol Elizabeth Owens, a customer, acknowledged the inconvenience of buying wine at separate stores.
“So it does present somewhat of an inconvenience. And so I can see it from both perspectives,” Owens said. But, when asked if the law should be passed to allow the sale of wines in grocery stores, Owens said she supports it.
Lawmakers have tried for years to get wine on grocery store shelves. Back in January, a bill was introduced that would allow all wine and liquor on grocery shelves. Last year, another bill was forwarded that would only allow wines made in New York to be sold in grocery stores. That bill was reintroduced in January. Neither bill has been passed.
This conversation has been going on since Prohibition in the 1930s, when the law banning liquor and wine sales in grocery stores was introduced.
Liquor store owners push back against New York proposal to allow wine sales in grocery stores WHEC.com.
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