Citizens of Soddy-Daisy who crave the convenience of getting their pinot at the same place they buy their frozen pizza can soon do so by driving to nearby Chattanooga, Lakesite or Red Bank, all of which approved the sale of wine in grocery stores last week.
Soddy-Daisy lacked the number of signatures required to put the referendum on the ballot.
In the municipalities where the referendum was approved, retail food stores can begin selling wine July 1, 2016.
“I would assume Bi-Lo, which was one of the stores leading the effort, will start selling wine as soon as they can,” said Red Bank City Manager Randall Smith.
However, the General Assembly determined that retailers within 500 feet of existing wine stores, such as the Bi-Lo in Red Bank, will not be allowed to sell wine until July 2017 unless they are able to reach an agreement with the nearby wine shop.
If the liquor store owner refuses to allow the grocery store to sell wine at any time during the period between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, the liquor store would also be prohibited from selling beer and certain other products until the grocery store automatically gains authority to sell wine July 1, 2017, according to Smith. Once the liquor store starts selling beer and other liquor-related products, the owner loses the ability to object to the sale of wine in the grocery store, he said.