Albany, NY – Where you see beer, you usually see wine but you won’t find wine on grocery store shelves in New York State any time soon. Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislators rejected the proposal to put wine into grocery stores.
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Although some grocery store owners have lobbied for this, others including storeowner Frank Budwey said it would hurt the economy, especially in Western New York.
“I really don’t want to see wine in supermarkets. If that happens we’re going to put out the more than 2,000 liquor stores they need that product or they’re not going to be able to stay in business. They can’t put meat, produce and bakery in their stores. I’m a little guy. I’m for the little guys,” Budwey said.
Many people said it’s a matter of having the wine right at the consumer’s fingertips.
“It’s all about convenience, whatever is convenient for them,” consumer Charles Joost said.
Those legislators rejecting the bill said it would promote underage drinking. They also said it will not only close liquor stores but it will stunt the growth of small wineries.
How exactly would it promote underage drinking? They sell cigarettes in grocery stores, and that does not promote underage smoking. In fact it is easier to buy cigarettes illegally in convenience stores than groceries.
Supermarkets in Michigan sell beer, wine and even hard liquor and all the party stores are still in business.
How would it “stunt the growth of small wineries”? On the contrary, they will be able to put their product in front of a larger customer base.
In California, alcohol is sold in supermarkets, and liquor stores still exist. Anyway, it is stupid to make rules just to protect certain businesses at the expense of consumers and other businesses.
I agree with # 4. By the way the way that small winery’s lose out is probably because, without the liquor stores, it is easier for the bigger companies to monopolize the fewer larger stores (with limited shelf space) that would sell. I suspect that most supermarkets would not have enough room to carry as much variety as your average liquor store.
It’s time for the average New Yorker to say NO to the liquor store lobby. Selling wine in supermarkets down here in Miami Beach is a huge convenience while doing your Shabbos shopping.
This legislation violates the commerce clause of the US Constitution. Albany has no right to disallow the mass marketing of wine and beer.
check out the supermarkets in NJ they sell alcoholic product as well this is because our state legislators are on the take nothing gets done without taking care of shelly and company