Bodega and supermarket owners rally to sell wine and liquor in New York

New York’s bodegas and supermarkets could one day stock wine and liquor if an expanding list of store owners, grocers and small-business groups gets its way. Assemblymember Amanda Septimo plans to stand with them on Wednesday to make the case, reopening a long-running fight over the state’s alcohol rules.

Right now, state law allows only about 4,000 licensed liquor stores to sell wine and spirits. Supporters say that limit is outdated. In their view, customers should be able to buy a bottle in the same stores where they already pick up groceries and household items, instead of being restricted to licensed liquor shops.

Who supports wine sales in bodegas and supermarkets

The push has drawn backing from groups that speak for bodegas, supermarkets and other small retailers. Several of them plan to send leaders to Wednesday’s event, among them the National Supermarket Association, the Bodega & Small Business Group and United Bodegas of America. Owners of bodegas and grocery stores from the Bronx are also expected to attend and add their voices to the call for change.

Liquor store owners expected to fight back

Any bid to widen alcohol sales will probably run into resistance from independent liquor store owners. For years they have argued that opening wine and liquor sales to supermarkets and bodegas would put small, family-owned shops at risk, since many of those businesses rely on that revenue to stay afloat.

Advocates are now working to win fresh support in Albany for changes to the way alcohol is sold in New York. The idea keeps coming back. Over the years it has surfaced again and again, but lawmakers have never rewritten the rules for selling wine and spirits in any sweeping way.