A decade-long debate in New York State’s legislature concerning wine sales could be nearing its end, as members of the State Senate and Assembly seek to pass legislation that would overturn a prohibition-era measure before the legislative session ends in two weeks. The new legislation would end the current ban on wine sales in the state’s grocery stores, a situation which exists only in nine other states across the country.
As common-sense as the reform may seem, the economy surrounding wine sales in the state has grown around the impediment over decades, creating a situation that is difficult to change without ruffling the feathers of interested parties. Liquor stores are keen to maintain the status quo, as competition from much larger grocery stores with commensurately larger buying power is an obvious concern. Assemblymember Pam Hunter, who introduced the bill two years ago, told a local CBS affiliate in Syracuse that “the issue of proximity” between the two kinds of establishments was a key factor to work out. “Putting some footage rule in there, grandfathering that in so that they can’t be close together–that should limit the competition,” she explained. Under an amendment added this week, grocery stores will indeed be limited from participating based on their distance from existing liquor stores.
There are tweaks and adjustments on a host of other issues as well. Part of Hunter’s measure is aimed at protecting New York State’s wine producers, which would ban grocery stores who produce their own wine from selling it in their own store. “That way, you’re not competing against all of the New York wineries that we’re trying to promote,” she explains. Another measure would instead permit liquor stores to begin selling glassware and mixers, which is currently not allowed.
State Senator Liz Krueger has added these measures to the Senate version of the bill, and has also included provisions allowing liquor stores to sell snacks and tobacco. Other bills seeking to modernize New York’s outdated laws are also on deck, including a measure sponsored by State Senator Jame Skoufis, which would enable retail-to-retail liquor sales for restaurants and bars, instead of forcing them to go through a wholesaler. This would allow establishments to pick up small amounts of specific items that are out of stock before their next delivery. Liquor distributors have so far been successful blocking the measure.
Despite the broad agreement that reforms are needed, the pushback from various stakeholders with interests in the status quo has tamped down hopes, even among the legislators proposing the changes. “I’m not giving up hope that’s something I could even try to move this year,” Krueger told Spectrum News 1. “…It’s still possible, but it’s probably not.”
