Ever wished that you could stroll into the Fresh Market and pick up some sea bass, and a nice Sauvignon Blanc to go with it, much like you can in neighboring states? Support this grocery-sponsored group or this consumer-backed one.  Sure, they stand to benefit. This isn't going to put the wine merchants out of business, though it will hurt them. They just like their near monopolies a little too much. They'll stay afloat by providing great customer service.

Sides mount fight over wine sales | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean.

The Tennessee legislature is getting ready to debate one of the biggest changes in state liquor laws since the repeal of Prohibition.

Lawmakers, led by state Sen. Bill Ketron, will take up the possibility of allowing wine sales in grocery stores, and possibly wine sales over the Internet, this fall. There have been half-hearted attempts to loosen restrictions on wine sales in Tennessee before, but this time Ketron and his backers say theres been a sea change in Tennessees attitude toward wine sales.

Something to keep in mind when buying wine at a restaurant here in TN:

Restaurant and bar alcohol prices either by the drink or by the bottle already include a 15% excise tax that goes to the state as well as the local sales tax (i.e., 9-10%). Thus the posted price on the menu already includes a total of 24-25% in state tax. Additional sales tax is NOT SUPPOSED to be added on top of that. [57-4-301 c]. Consumers should watch to make sure restaurants are not adding an additional sales tax on top of the posted menu prices by mistake.