Arkansas Grocery Wine Sales Bill Advances

A proposed law that would expand wine sales in Arkansas grocery stores is advancing through the state’s legislature.

The Arkansas House of Representatives voted 53-34 last week to approve the bill, two days after it narrowly failed, which would allow supermarkets to sell wine from all producers, the Associated Press reported.

The bill, sponsored by GOP state Sen. Bart Hester, now goes back to the state Senate for agreement on an amendment, AP reported. If successful in both houses, the bill will go to Arkansas’ governor.

Currently, Arkansas grocery stores can sell wine only from small wineries; more extensive wine selections are only available at liquor stores.

Some county-line liquor stores reportedly agreed to support the bill after grocers pledged to not support elections calling for alcohol sales in "dry" counties for eight years, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.