Early voting supports wine in grocery stores referendums

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Early voters have shown strong support for a pair of referendums expanding the number of Hamilton County municipalities where wine can be sold in grocery stores.

So far, Soddy-Daisy residents have voted 1,403 - 523 in favor of allowing wine sales in retail food stores.

If the referendum passes, City Manager Janice Cagle has said the Soddy-Daisy Commission will still need to approve an ordinance before grocery-based wine sales can occur. She said she expects the process will be completed by the end of the year.

"It's been surprisingly quiet," Soddy-Daisy Mayor Rick Nunley said in October, recounting public protests against a liquor store referendum several years ago.

In 2014, a petition to put the wine in grocery stores failed to get enough signatures to get it on the ballot. However, that same year, Soddy-Daisy residents voted to allow package stores inside the city.

A separate Hamilton County referendum on wine in retail food stores will affect the towns of Lookout Mountain, Walden and Ridgeside. The measure received 19,502 early ballots in favor and 5,618 early ballots against.

Chattanooga began grocery-store wine sales on July 1.

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