Wine in Tennessee

In many states, wine is available in grocery stores but not in my home state of Tennessee. Whatever the stated rationale-less driving under the influence, public drunkenness, etc.-the actual reason many in the state legislature do not want to see consumers benefit from less expensive wine in groceries is simple. Those who are corrupt or merely less than scrupulous know it is next to impossible to extort a bribe or a kickback from a major national retailer like Walmart or Kroger. It is much easier to shakedown Mom and Pop corner liquor stores than to put the arm on these behemoths. Sure, the big boys may contribute to campaigns legally but there is so much more off the books shenanigans possible if the giants are kept out and the small stores are subject to the whims of legislators or regulators who could be on the take, or subject to being bought or sold, or favorable to a little cash persuasion. Many of those railing against the evils of wine today in the legislature will imbibe more than a little for St. Paddy's Day-nothing better for some of those self-righteous hypocrites than a whore and a tipple.