Don Cazentre of the Syracuse Post -Standard reports - “A proposal to allow wine to be sold in New York’s grocery stores has been reintroduced in the state legislature, this time with changes the sponsors hope will end opposition to the idea from the state’s wine and liquor stores.

The new bill expands the list of products that can be sold by wine and liquor retailers to include such items as non-alcohol drinks, snacks, ice and wine accessories. Current law strictly limits those retailers to wine and liquor.

The new bill also expands the hours liquor stores can operate, allows liquor store owners to own more than one license and allows them to sell their licenses if they close. The bill is sponsored in the state Senate by Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, and in the state Assembly by Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit.

The previous version of the bill, which was pulled after opposition mounted this spring, would have allowed grocers, who can already sell beer along with food and other products, to sell wine but added nothing for liquor stores.

In the past few years, the state has been cracking down on wine and liquor stores, preventing them from selling certain wine-related accessories, such as decanters or gift bags.

“This proposal should increase revenue for the state, and level the playing field for grocers as well as the independent wine and liquor retailers,” said Kyle Sklerov, Krueger’s communications director.”

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