NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Tennessee House of Representatives has approved a bill to give local retailers the opportunity to be open and to sell wine and spirits seven days a week.
The legislation, HB1540/SB2518, passed 55 to 35 and includes the following key provisions:
• It allows retail liquor stores the option of being open seven days a week upon enactment.
• Retail food stores can begin selling wine seven days a week beginning January 1, 2019.
• It allows wine and spirits to be sold on holidays such as New Year’s Day, Independence Day, etc., which currently is not permitted.
The legislation updates the inconsistency of current state law. For example, today beer, wine and spirits can be sold any day of the week for on-premises consumption at a number of places including restaurants, sporting events, hotels, theaters, convention centers, airports, retirement centers, tourist resorts and many others, and distilleries can sell up to five gallons any day of the week. Tennesseans can buy beer in grocery stores any day of the week, but retail liquor stores can’t even choose when they are open.
Tennessee is one of only nine states that currently puts its local retailers at a competitive disadvantage.
According to the Distilled Spirits Council, in states that have passed seven-day sales since 2002, retailers have seen an increase in sales, between 4 and 11.5 percent, even after adjusting for diversion from other days of the week. In Tennessee it is estimated that allowing seven-day-sales would generate $20 to $28 million each year for retailers.
The bill sets consistent hours for the sale of wine and spirits from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) are sponsors. The Senate is scheduled to hear the bill on Wednesday.