It's not just sour grapes.
Most New Yorkers want the option to buy wine from grocery stores or at bodegas. And they may eventually see that all they can do over the years is a red-red cry.
The new state bill will overturn long-standing restrictions that make supermarkets legal to stock wine, limit most sales to liquor stores, and disrupt why it exists for many shoppers.
“The liquor store probably wants to create a monopoly,” laughed Queens mechanic Anthony Green, Jamaica.
“They can both do their own thing… there's no need to keep anyone out.”
A spectacular 83% of New York City voters are helping supermarkets sell their wine, according to a new poll.
This study, conducted by Siena College, has seen increased support for increasing accessibility to fermented grapes, making it even more difficult to limit where wine can be sold.
The question is whether lawmakers will act this year after previous efforts have been completed by placing corks in debate without taking action.
“We're supporting the sale of wine at grocery stores. It will expand the brand of wines, especially made in New York,” said John Catsimatidis, who owns the Gristedes supermarket chain, said. It's there.
Big Apple grocery stores already sell beer, and even wines with low alcohol content.
Supporters say 40 other states, including the District of Columbia, have already allowed wine to be sold at grocery stores.
But not everyone is ready to toast to keep the current law down.
The liquor store merchant is digging his heels and is willing to give up on exclusivity without a fight.
One liquor merchant said grocery stores should stay in the lanes, sell food and let liquor store owners sell wine and spirit.
“I'm totally against that. We're a liquor store. That's our business. That's what we sell. Jimmy Kisholl, manager of Best Liquos on Hillside Avenue. .
“They need to stick to selling food. They can't sell food. They can't sell water. They can't sell drinks. They can't sell alcohol and wine. The bottom line is, Why do they need to sell our products when they can't sell their products?”
Previous efforts to change the law may have been sunk by simple politics.
Industry sources said liquor merchants have strong allies where politicians, mostly Republicans and some Democrats, don't want to intersect. Mike Long, the long-time chairman of the state conservative party who passed away in 2022, was the owner of a Brooklyn liquor store.
Conservatives who are eager to support the Conservative Party as additional voting lines may be the difference between swing suburbs and upstate districts, as they may not want additional voting lines to conflict with leaders They are eager to support the party, insiders said.
But Fannie Maldonado, who owns 947 deli grocery store in Jamaica, Queens, said it would be fun if there were more wines available.
“If you want to sell, it should be allowed,” said Maldonado, who sells several low-alcoholic wine drinks.
The “New York State” coalition, which includes the grocery store, the Farm Bureau representing wineries, and the New York State Business Council, praised the overwhelming public support in expanding access to wine.
They allow New Yorkers to buy wine from grocery stores and encourage New York-made wine sales, Sen. Liz Kruger (D-Manhattan) and Assembly Woman Pamela Hunter (D-Syracuse) ) supports the latest laws sponsored by. Reduce store annual license renewal fees based on sales.
The measure limits sales to grocery stores with a minimum floor area of 5,000 square feet if approved.
This provision eliminates minimarts and corner deli/bodegas at small convenience stores, drug stores, gas stations.
Additionally, 65% of the store's sales must be food-related to sell wine. This eliminates major retailers and superstores that may have a grocery section.
The restrictions reduce the number of stores eligible to sell wine to 1,900 from the previous law, from 9,000.
Meanwhile, the bill opened up new opportunities for New York winemakers and grape producers to sell their products.
New York is the third largest wine producer in the country after California and Washington, and has the most wineries.
However, as previously reported, wines made from Finger Lakes and Long Island are on display at a liquor store in New York City, America's largest market.
