Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A local state senator uncorks a bill in Albany that would allow wine to be sold in grocery stores. But George Borrello's bill has a catch.
Borrello says he's opposed to the unrestricted sale of wine and grocery stores because of what he believes will be the devastating impact on small retailers, wine shops, liquor stores, who he says suffered with overregulation for decades. "I introduced this bill, one to help wineries and grape farms, which I have lots of in my district, but also to prevent what I see as momentum in this unrestricted sale of wine in grocery stores, a bill that's gaining momentum in Albany, I think, for the first time in a while, and has a real chance of passing, that would certainly be an issue.," says Borello. His bill would allow only wines made in New York to be sold in NY's grocery stores.
Borrello says unrestricted sales would allow the big names to fill up spaces at grocery stores. "Even right now, if you go into a a liquor store, even big liquor stores that we have in Western New York, the selection of New York wines is minimal at most and most smaller stores. It's almost non existent in most smaller store," he explains. He calls this bill a new opportunity to create profit for struggling grape farmers.
He says reaction has been mixed. "I think some understand the reality that this could happen and have a devastating impact. But at the same time, I think most of them don't understand what I'm trying to achieve here. I do see this as a compromise, and hope it will start a conversation about how we can do something in in grocery stores without having a devastating impact," adds Borrello.
Borrello says there's a fine line to tread, with mounting pressure on New York to allow grocers to sell wine. "New York is one of the few states left which allows some sale of alcohol in grocery stores like beer, but does not allow the sale of wine," he says. "I think the pressure to do something in Albany is pretty intense. That's why doing nothing, in my opinion, would probably push us toward this unrestricted sale of wine, which I think, again, I would not support, because of the devastating impact on these small retailers."
Andy Wegrzyn of Buffalo Distillery, which sells spirits to area liquor stores, is sour on the compromise bill. "I think a lot of the mom and pop shops will be affected. Everybody will be affected, even the large stores, because it's going to cut into their if wine is available at the grocery stores, I think your average liquor store is probably anywhere from 50 to 60% wine," says Wegrzyn. He fears some of those mom and pop businesses won't survive
There's no word on when Borrello's bill could go up for a vote.