Chattanooga WhiskeyNASHVILLE – Efforts to let liquor distilleries operate in Chattanooga became whiskey-a-no-go in a House subcommittee Wednesday after the bill’s sponsor accused opponents of one provision of using “thug tactics.”
Chattanooga is seeking to join counties that may operate distilleries. The permission is in a bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas.
But Wednesday, Carr delayed the bill for a week, citing a full-page newspaper ad attacking the bill and pressuring State Government Subcommittee members over a separate local-control provision.
Carr charged that a Gatlinburg company, Ole’ Smoky Moonshine Distillery, paid for the ad urging readers to call lawmakers to vote no on the bill as a way of keeping liquor laws local.
The ad says local control “is one of the most important tools for law enforcement, schools, and health officials to manage responsible alcohol use in our neighborhoods.