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Library : Newspaper Articles Grocery stores shouldn't sell wine Rick Orndorf - Staff Writer Lakeville/Farmington This Week Bread, eggs, milk and a bottle of Merlot. This could be your future grocery list if the current proposal to sell Wine in the grocery stores passes the Legislature this session. The Minnesota Grocers Association is lobbying for legislation to permit grocery stores to sell wine. The association claims convenience for consumers is a driving force for this proposal. But is it really a convenience issue or trying to grab a bigger piece of the market share away from the liquor retailers? When I first saw the informational postcard reply cards and displays in Rainbow Foods promoting the sale of wine in local stores, I was excited at the prospect. Under the weight of years of archaic Scandinavian state legislation, Minnesota has always restricted the sale of alcohol. From the when and wheres, to heavy taxation, liquor is on the defensive. Liquor retailers have a myriad of rules and regulations regarding their product that put them at a disadvantage business-wise against other states. Only recently did the Legislature allow liquor stores to advertise prices in the nevspaper. This was appreciated by consumers and retailers as an important competitive step. I will admit that i am open to criticism, having worked through college in various liquor stores. I also have many friends who are employed by the wine industry. By transferring sales to a grocery store, there would be a reduced need for their services. Under the Minnesota Grocers Association proposal, only grocery stores of over 10,000 square feet and located within the seven-county metro area would be able to sell wine. That would exclude many communities where giant grocery stores are not found nor built. So as far as a convenience issue, the people who shop at Mercados, Asian Markets and "mom and pop" stores would not benefit from this proposal. I am concerned about how the wine legislation would impact small Dakota County retailers. Even the most innovative marketing and service could never make up for the volume and price level war that would be started by a major grocery store. You may suggest that if liquor and beer were to join wine as a part of the proposal I might be more willing to support it. I disagree. I am more wiiling to support small businesses than opt for my personal convenience. Grocery stores should follow the lead of such places as Byerly's and Costco, which attach liquor stores to their stores. I see this as being a link to the convenience for which consumers are looking. The Minnesota Grocers Association should be promoting the side-by-side retailing and let the legislators focus on more important matters. << back to newspaper index |