NASHVILLE (AP) - Sen. Bill Ketron has delayed a final committee vote on supermarket wine so he can rewrite the bill to keep cigarettes from being sold in liquor stores.
The Murfreesboro Republican said Tuesday that he still intends to move the bill to hold local referendums on whether to allow wine sales in grocery and convenience stores through the Senate Finance Committee as early as next week, but that he would then put the measure on hold before receiving a full floor vote.
The House version of the bill surprisingly failed in the Local Government Committee last week. Proponents hope the measure could be revived this year or next.
Under current law, supermarkets can't sell any alcohol stronger than beer, while package stores can't sell anything other than wine, liquor and lottery tickets.