Aug 6, 2013      By Samantha Hearn | The Tennessean

Tennesseans can tell their legislators they want wine in grocery stores through the Red White and Food campaign, a coalition established by Kroger and the Tennessee Grocer's Association that's setting up postcard stands in stores all over the state.

"The legislators say that they hear from their constituents on this issue consistently," said Emily Ogden of Red White and Food. "There's broad support for this."

During the 2013 legislative session, Sen. Bill Ketron and Rep. John Lundberg called for a referendum that would allow Tennesseans to vote on the issue. The bill did not pass, but Red White and Food pushed the legislation further.

Two committees in the Senate did vote to pass the bill, taking it further than it has ever gone -- and leaving proponents optimistic about the 2014 legislative session.

"This is an issue that people actually pay attention to," said Melissa Eads, Community Affairs Manager for Kroger's mid-south division. "The difference with it being a local referendum is that people would be able to vote on it, so if you have communities that don't want to have it then they can vote not to have it."

Wish Wine Were Here, the kickoff event for the campaign, happened Tuesday at Green Hills Kroger, giving customers the opportunity to fill out postcards as they shopped.

"All the research that's been done shows that close to 70 percent of Tennesseans want this," said Eads.

Those in the local liquor store industry see the referendum differently, as a threat to small businesses. Read more..