Wine with Food Petition

Kroger is promoting this petition.

http://foodaction.net/campaign/WinePetition/

Kroger is promoting this petition.

http://foodaction.net/campaign/WinePetition/

Great !!!!....I spent 10 years trying to keep my kids out of the "toy" aisle at the grocery store, now I'm looking at spending the rest of my life trying to keep my lovely bride out of the wine aisle. Can a guy get a break ? I vote no.

BTW, I would be very curious to know what the position of the organization representing Kentucky wine producers is regarding this petition...Places like the Liquor Barn (etc, etc) devote a lot of shelf space to KY wines and if it were my store that shelf space would disappear if I suspected any kind of support for this action.

Just my 2 cents.

BTW, I would be very curious to know what the position of the organization representing Kentucky wine producers is regarding this petition...Places like the Liquor Barn (etc, etc) devote a lot of shelf space to KY wines and if it were my store that shelf space would disappear if I suspected any kind of support for this action.

While Kroger will most likely carry mass-produced, alcoholic fruit juice, we should also consider how this will affect local grocers like Valu Market.

They've been lobbying and petitioning to be allowed to sell wine for quite a while. They devote a decent amount of shelf space to local beer already. I also consider their beer selection to be well informed and fairly expansive, especially for a grocery store.

I can only hope that their wine selection will follow similar trends.

I'd rather petition to legalize corkage at restaurants. I'm ok with Kroger selling wine.

[quote="Mark Head"]I'd rather petition to legalize corkage at restaurants.quote]

I'm with Mark! Particuluarly since it is not a strongly enforced law and many places allow this pracitce. I even came across a well known local with corkage on it's website. In a short discussion with KY ABC, they feel that corkage somehow compromises a license holders ability to control the consumption of alcohol on their premises. That logic is lost on me since I would know about the bottle that you brought in as I charged a fee to serve it.

Being in the business (well, the beer business) I know that there are alot of small liquor store owners who are weary of something like this passing. It could drastically affect their business to the point that I would imagine a few would be forced to close shop. Part of their concerns are that if wine gets into grocery stores, the liquor companies would press for the same thing. That, as one local store owner put it, would be "game over".
Its a tough thing. I can certainly see both sides of the issue. But, can't you sell wine in Indiana grocery stores? I know the Whole Foods in Indianapolis sells wine in store. Not sure if its a statewide law. But, if it is, maybe Todd from The Keg could chime in with how it has affected his store. Todd, you out there?

Yes, as a consumer I have purchased wine in Indiana grocery stores - even the Indiana Aldi! Not particularly good wine, but something to make sangria out of.

But, can't you sell wine in Indiana grocery stores? I know the Whole Foods in Indianapolis sells wine in store. Not sure if its a statewide law. But, if it is, maybe Todd from The Keg could chime in with how it has affected his store. Todd, you out there?

I'm working in Indianapolis. Groceries in Indiana can sell, beer, wine, and liquor. They cannot sell cold beer or wine, though. There are plenty of liquor stores here also. I'm not sure what other rules they have about the sales ratios between booze and food for example.

All the petition is asking is to sell wine INSIDE the store, as is allowed in most neighboring states. Already Costco, Meijers, and Kroger have liquor stores, either with a separate entrance or located next door. My only problem with the current setup is that the stores are tiny; each has some nice labels, along with most of the mass-brands, but if you pick & choose you can buy wine right now (and don't even have to go outside in Meijers or Costco).

[Robin Garr]

My only problem with the current setup is that the stores are tiny

Kroger in Prospect is not small, but the selection doesn't really knock my socks off. I suspect that even with a good wine buyer (Neil Wellinghurst), corporate dictates industrial-made wines to some extent. The smaller, quality wine shops will always serve a niche market with limited-selection wines and staff savvy. And I expect the better big shops (like Liquor Barn) will fight it off with substantially better selection and trained staff. I expect Liquor Barn will lobby heavily against the bill, though.

ok, i'm a bit confused. you can buy beer and wine in grocery stores in indy, BUT NOT cold beer and wine. what is the rational behind that?

Annemarie,

It seems that every state has it's share of goofy liquor laws. In Minnesota you can only buy spirits/wine/beer in a licensed liquor store...and for all practical purposes a liquor store is only allowed to sell two things: alcohol and cigarettes. Oh, I almost forgot, you can buy 3.2% beer in "convienience" stores (but NOTHING anywhere on Sundays).

In Oklahoma (which as recently as the 90's was a "brown bag" state) it's the same thing...3.2 beer in grocery stores but no wine, etc. No Sunday sales. Again, the stores can only sell alcohol...nothing else. Oh and here's a cute one...they have to sell beer WARM (WTF !!!).

When we got to Louisville and were introduced to the Taj Ma Liquor Barn we were understandably all a quiver.

I would suspect the "warm only" rule is so that you're less likely to drink it on the way home in the car.

ok, i'm a bit confused. you can buy beer and wine in grocery stores in indy, BUT NOT cold beer and wine. what is the rational behind that?

Makes about as much sense as most alcohol legislation/regulation. Surely you realize that you can buy cold soda pop in a grocery, but liquor stores can only sell warm pop. I guess they don't want you chugging cola while driving home from the packy.

Also, I not sure of current rules in Indiana, but at one time the rule was in order to sell liquor the grocery had to have a pharmacy.

BP

In Louisiana, beer,wine and liquor are sold in grocery stores. In the New Orleans area, at least, alcohol can be sold 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I still know of many wine and/or liquor stores, ranging in size from small independents to Liquor Barn-size chains. The ones that thrive seem to do so with a specialized selection and excellent customer service. And if I'm not mistaken, there are regulations that prevent a store like Walmart from undercutting the competition on price.
That being said, though, I'm sure the convenience factor would hurt the specialty shops.

My only problem with the current setup is that the stores are tiny

Kroger in Prospect is not small, but the selection doesn't really knock my socks off. I suspect that even with a good wine buyer (Neil Wellinghurst), corporate dictates industrial-made wines to some extent. The smaller, quality wine shops will always serve a niche market with limited-selection wines and staff savvy. And I expect the better big shops (like Liquor Barn) will fight it off with substantially better selection and trained staff. I expect Liquor Barn will lobby heavily against the bill, though.

I mostly agree, but while living in St. Louis, where liquor, wine, and beer is all sold in grocery stores, the chain grocery,version-of-Kroger, Schnuck's, managed a pretty impressive selection of beer, wine, and liquor, with many local and otherwise not-industrial options all around. I was always impressed with the number of high-end bourbons available (though at a much higher cost than here). Of course, this was to be found only at the Schnuck's in more prosperous areas, but the Schnuck's close to Washington University had a wine selection rivaling Old Town (not monstrously huge, but well thought).