|
|
| |
| Fri, Aug. 29, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
House panel endorses wine bill Saturday, Mar 3, 2007 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - A bill that would allow some out-of-state wines to be sold in Arkansas grocery and convenience stores received the endorsement Friday of the House Rules Committee. House Bill 1651 by Rep. John Paul Wells, D-Paris, is a response to lawsuits challenging a state law that allows only wines produced in Arkansas to be sold at grocery and convenience stores. Out-of-state wineries say the law illegally gives an advantage to Arkansas wineries. Under Wells' bill, wines from in or out of state could be sold in grocery and convenience stores, as long as they come from wineries producing 250,000 gallons a year or less. "What my bill does, it takes out the unconstitutional part of our wine laws and lets wineries from out of state, if they're under 250,000 gallons, into the state," Wells said. Wells said the bill would allow more competition among wineries, but at the same time it would set a size limit on wineries shipping into the state to provide some protection to Arkansas wineries. "This just mainly keeps us out of court and keeps the wine industry in business," he said. Several people involved in the retail liquor business testified against the bill. Shirley Yeager, president of Arkansas Beverage Retailers Association, said the bill would put liquor stores at a disadvantage because they have to abide by numerous regulations that do not apply to grocery stores. "Liquor stores are regulated by ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) laws not to have competing items with other retail stores. We couldn't even sell cheese in the liquor store to take home to have with a bottle of wine," she said. "There will be a lot of lost sales and a lot of people hurt by this deal," said John Brewer of 71 Liquors in Fort Smith. Mary Beth Cains of Mount Bethel Winery in Altus testified for the bill. "The 250,000 gallon cap, it allows Arkansas wineries to do what we need to do," Cains said. "It will bring in some amount of wine from these small producers, but these are wines that primarily have not been available to the consumer, and I see this as being a benefit to the consumer." The bill advances to the full House. |
