The Liquor Lobby Shows its True Colors

There was a legislative committee hearing today pertaining to SB3139, the bill that would allow grocery stores to sell wine. Those in favor of the status quo, restricting wine sales to liquor stores, could not have been more transparent.

While they made some specious rhetoric about concerns about teen drinking, even their spokesman couldn't obscure what their agenda was really about. He pleaded with the committee that if this bill passes, it threatens the sales of 525 liquor stores in Tennessee. For those who have studied economics, you'll recall that this is the textbook definition of a rent-seeking industry, one that pushes for legislation that will give (or preserve) a competitive advantage rather than allowing the free market to serve consumers best.

At least one legislator (I didn't get his name) showed how petty those in the pocket of the liquor industry are prepared to be in this fight. When the speaker on behalf of the grocery stores was clarifying that groceries intended to sell "only wine" and not spirits, the legislator interrupted him to disingenuously ask, "Do you mean to say you intend to sell only wine and stop selling all other products you now sell?"

What? Are you that much of an idiot? No, you're just being ridiculous in order to make a farce of these proceedings.

It's time to give Tennessee consumers the choice and convenience of buying their wine in grocery stores. If that means some liquor stores can't compete and start to lose business, too bad. You probably don't deserve to be in business if you can't survive in the absence of favorable legislation propping you up.