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Most voters do not understand that allowing supermarkets to sell wine is taking money out of our state. All Tennessee wine and spirit stores are locally owned (family owned) and are supporting the state and their community. Publix, Walgreens, Walmart, etc. this money goes out of state. This does not create more jobs, it takes jobs away.
I don't know whether "all" liquor stores in TN are locally owned. Maybe that's true. But, the grocery stores employ local residents, and the more product the stock and sell, the more people they'll employ, thus keeping that money, and the tax revenue, in TN. Alternatively, many people now shop outside of TN because AL and GA allow them to buy wine in grocery stores. In that case, the income and the taxes go out-of-state.
The added tax revenue is a non issue unless the added travel and gas tax for those buying wine is considered. Grocery stores can sell beer but not wine and liquor stores can sell wine and liquor but not beer. Sounds a lot like like special interest and lobbyist accommodation.
There is no logical reason to keep wine sales out of grocery stores except to protect the monopoly the liquor industry has. There are those people that would like to have a bottle of wine with dinner but are reluctant to visit a liquor store. We have lived in states that allow grocery stores to sell wine and it makes for a more competitive industry.
Most voters do not understand that allowing supermarkets to sell wine is taking money out of our state. All Tennessee wine and spirit stores are locally owned (family owned) and are supporting the state and their community. Publix, Walgreens, Walmart, etc. this money goes out of state. This does not create more jobs, it takes jobs away.
I don't know whether "all" liquor stores in TN are locally owned. Maybe that's true. But, the grocery stores employ local residents, and the more product the stock and sell, the more people they'll employ, thus keeping that money, and the tax revenue, in TN. Alternatively, many people now shop outside of TN because AL and GA allow them to buy wine in grocery stores. In that case, the income and the taxes go out-of-state.
SO, by what trickery do they take the sales tax out of state. I have to report and pay mine directly to the Tennesse Department Of Revenue.
The added tax revenue is a non issue unless the added travel and gas tax for those buying wine is considered. Grocery stores can sell beer but not wine and liquor stores can sell wine and liquor but not beer. Sounds a lot like like special interest and lobbyist accommodation.
There is no logical reason to keep wine sales out of grocery stores except to protect the monopoly the liquor industry has. There are those people that would like to have a bottle of wine with dinner but are reluctant to visit a liquor store. We have lived in states that allow grocery stores to sell wine and it makes for a more competitive industry.
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