ALBANY (AP) -- Owners of wine and liquor stores will be in Albany today to lobby against Governor Paterson's proposal to legalize wine sales in grocery stores and other retail outlets in New York state.
Opponents say the plan would put many small stores out of business, costing the state thousands of jobs. They say it also would lead to an increase in underage drinking and accidents.
Paterson's plan to have New York join the 35 states that allow supermarket wine sales includes more compromises for liquor stores than previous proposals. The governor estimated that a store franchise fee could bring New York $92 million in the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
Grocery stores, some wineries and grape growers are elated at the proposal.
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