ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill to allow Tennessee supermarkets to sell wine has been approved by the state House.
Lawmakers voted to allow cities and counties that currently allow package stores or liquor-by-the-drink sales to hold referendums on whether to allow wine to be sold outside of liquor stores.
The Senate must sign this new version, which will then go to Governor Haslam’s desk.
Other details of the legislation includes mandating a 20 percent markup over wholesale prices on wine being sold as well as matching current requirements prohibiting alcohol sales from taking place on Sundays.
Liquor stores would be allowed to sell other items for the first time, including cigarettes, newspapers and magazines, corkscrews, glassware, T-shirts, alcohol mixers, and snacks.
Wine would not be sold in stores until July 2016.