The Senate State and Local Government Committee approved legislation on Tuesday permitting retail food stores to sell wine and retail package stores to sell alcoholic beverages seven days a week. Senate Bill 2518, sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), would put retailers on par with restaurants, hotels, convention centers, tourist resorts and other businesses in Tennessee which are already allowed to sell wine and spirits any day of the week under state law.

Senator Ketron stated...



"This legislation is about supporting small retail businesses across Tennessee and allowing them to make the best decisions they can to succeed while creating a higher level of convenience and customer service for consumers," said Senator Ketron. "The current law puts our local retailers at a competitive disadvantage."

Presently, retailers can sell beer seven days a week in Tennessee, while the sale of wine and distilled spirits is limited to Monday through Saturday and is not allowed on certain holidays. The legislation would allow retail businesses to open from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, including holidays. Retail package stores would be allowed to choose whether or not to be open seven days a week upon the bill becoming law, while it would become effective for retail food stores on January 1, 2019.

Forty states allow for seven-day sales by retailers, including five which border Tennessee.

"This legislation makes sure we are looking out for small businesses across the state and not getting in their way by mandating basic business decisions like the days of the week in which they can stay open," Ketron concluded.