NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — They might seem like unlikely allies, but booze peddlers and Southern Baptists are teaming up in opposition to proposed legislation that would allow the sale of wine in grocery and convenience stores in Tennessee.
Currently Tennessee allows the sale of beer, but not wine, in food stores. Grocers are backing bills introduced in the Tennessee Legislature to create a new class of liquor license allowing the sale of wine at retail food stores in counties and towns that already permit package liquor sales.
The Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association posted an online petition for consumers to sign up to support wine sales at stores.
Tennessee Consumers for Fair Wine Laws also support the measure, saying competition with other retail wine sales would result in lower costs for customers as well as an increase in the number of wine varieties and brands available.
Opponents say more than 500 independent liquor stores in the state would stand to lose half their business, jeopardizing jobs of the 3,000 people they employ. State law does not allow liquor stores to sell beer.
Recently the editor of Baptist & Reflector, newspaper of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, weighed in with an editorial urging the state's Baptists to oppose the bill as well.
"I find it ironic (even funny) that Baptists would be on the same side as the liquor industry, but it is true in this case, even though for totally different reasons," Editor Lonnie Wilkey wrote in an editorial reprinted Feb. 22 in The Tennessean, Nashville's main daily newspaper.
Wilkey said increasing the number of outlets selling alcohol would allow easier access to wine for those who shouldn't have it, including teenagers and alcoholics.
"Research has shown that increasing the number of outlets selling alcohol leads to more addiction, violent crime, underage drinking and car crashes," Wilkey wrote. "That's not only research-proven, it's just plain common sense."
Tennessee is one of a number of states currently considering loosening restrictions on liquor sales as a way to boost tax revenues. Georgia, Connecticut, Indiana, Texas, Alabama and Minnesota are all considering legislation that would end the ban on Sunday liquor sales. Two dozen states are looking to help their budgets by raising taxes on alcohol.
Legislation dealing with wine sales in Tennessee was deferred during the last legislative session for study until this year. A Senate committee took up the matter in a hearing at its first meeting of the year Feb. 10.
Wilkey said Baptists are not trying to "legislate morality" in opposing the change.
"Opposing this bill is not forcing our beliefs on anyone, because the alcohol can already be purchased," he wrote. "We are just opposed to making it easier and more convenient to buy."
"Tennessee probably will never be alcohol-free, but we can help limit its availability," he said.
The sponsor of the state Senate version of the bill is Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro). Sponsoring the companion House bill is Rep. David Shepard (D-Dickson). According to their legislative biographies, both are Methodists.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.