The Alcohol laws of Tennessee are distinct in that they vary considerably by county. Local government jurisdictions (counties & municipalities) in Tennessee by default are dry and do not allow the sales of liquor or wine. These governments must amend the laws to allow for liquor-by-the-drink sales and retail package stores. In many cases, the county may be dry, but a municipality is wet. Selling beer does not impact a dry or wet designation. This list may not reflect recent changes. In a "dry County", the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages is prohibited or restricted – 14 out of Tennessee's 95 counties are completely dry. The designation of a "wet county" applies to jurisdictions where the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages is permitted – 11 out of Tennessee's 95 counties are wet. The state's four largest cities, Memphis (Shelby), Nashville (Davidson), Knoxville (Knox), and Chattanooga (Hamilton), are located in "wet counties". In a "moist county", the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages in certain jurisdictions is permitted.

This designation applies to 70 out of Tennessee's 95 counties. By 1810, registered distilleries numbered 14,191 and were producing 25.5 million gallons of whiskey.[3] In 2009, the Tennessee General Assembly amended the statute that had for many years limited the distillation of drinkable spirits to just three counties (Lincoln, Moore, and Coffee). The revised law allows distilleries to be established in 41 additional counties (counties in which liquor-by-the-drink was legal). This change was expected to lead to the establishment of small distilleries, thus increasing the number of producers of Tennessee whiskey.[4] As of March 2013, there are five brands with at least one Tennessee whiskey on the market, and several with whiskey in the barrel awaiting release.[5] By state law, distilleries may sell one commemorative product on location regardless of local statutes. ^ (Gourmet magazine website), August 13, 2009Nashville voters welcome wine in grocery storesAfter seven years of debate, Nashvillians will finally be able to purchase Chardonnay with their Cheerios, but not for another 20 months.

The city was among several Middle Tennessee municipalities approving a referendum that would allow wine to be sold in supermarkets, convenience stores and big-box retailers, a measure that will go into effect beginning July 1, 2016."best wine bar somaIt bears out what we have known for the seven years we've been fighting this fight," said Rob Ikard, Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association president. best wine bar downtown portland"Tennesseans overwhelming want to buy wine where they buy food."new age wine denverWith all precincts reporting, 79 percent of Davidson County voters supported wine sold in grocery stores. best red wine on the planet

In all Tennessee municipalities voting on the referendum, results showed an overwhelming majority of voters favoring the measure with 77 percent of Franklin voters and 79.5 percent of Brentwood voters giving approval.wine grapes for sale new jerseyFor grocery stores and retailers in municipalities that approve the wine referendum, their next steps will be building relationships with wholesalers and determining how to make shelf space available, Ikard said.wine vineyards for sale virginiaThe General Assembly voted for wine to be sold in grocery stores last spring in municipalities that allow bars or liquor stores, but cities and counties had to approve the measure through local referendums. The referendums were also held in Fairview, Gallatin, Goodlettsville, Hendersonville, Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro and Smyrna, among others.

Red White and Food group, along with Kroger, Publix, Food Lion and other retail partners, led the referendum effort, enlisting close to 30,000 volunteers who gathered more than 262,000 signatures to include the wine-in-grocery store vote in the mid-term ballot in more than 78 municipalities. The petition drive fell short in 14 other Tennessee areas, including Columbia, Dickson, La Vergne, Portland and Springfield.The legislation also allows liquor stores to sell items other than alcohol, such as mixers, glassware and T-shirts, and permits wholesalers to operate outside the state's largest cities.Vote totalsvoted yesvoted noMetro Nashville 103,896 (79%) 1,132 (30%) *Spring Hill 5,973 (76%) 1,921 (24%) *Coopertown 791 (67%) White House 1,462 (68%) 701 (32%) *Murfreesboro 17,165 (74%) 2,211 (29%) *Hendersonville 9,630 (72%) 3,686 (28%) *Brentwood 10,711 (79.5%) 3,914 (23%) *Thompson’s Station 838 (76%) 1,832 (32%) *Mt. Juliet 5,628 (76%) 1,758 (24%) *Clarksville 14,826 (72%) 1,408 (31%) *Area with precincts still reporting as of 11:15 p.m.

Gallery: Uncorked: Grocers, shoppers celebrate first day of wine sales Tennessee House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick laughs Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Tennessee House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick laughs... Would you buy wine on Sundays? NASHVILLE — Two years ago after persuading Tennessee lawmakers to let them sell wine, state grocery and convenience stores are now setting an ambitious new goal: repealing the long-standing ban on Sunday sales of wine. Rob Ikard, president and CEO of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association, said the grocers group is joining with Tennessee wineries and the Distilled Spirits Council to push for what he calls "seven-day sales." "We think if there's ever a time to try it, it's right now, because we know our customers are really perplexed they can't buy wine in our food stores on Sunday when they can buy beer across the aisle," Ikard said. He noted customers went "nuts" with delight when grocery stores began offering wine July 1.

"But then on Sunday, customers were told to put it [wine bottle] back on the shelf" because of the ban, he said. "We think there's strong consumer interest in this," Ikard added, citing dozens of local referendums across the state where voters approved wine sales in food stores. Because package liquor stores also sell wine, the proposal would allow them to open and they would be able to sell liquor too, Ikard and others said. Both Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro said they're strongly looking at sponsoring the legislation. "I have talked to them about that and I probably will do it," said McCormick, who chose not to seek a fourth term as House majority leader for the legislative session beginning Jan. 10. "I think it's just to make it consistent leave it up to the local operators and not the state," McCormick added. "I think most [Tennesseans] will go along with it." He noted that Tennesseans already can buy wine or spirits by the drink on Sundays at restaurants with an alcohol license.

Ketron said that as part of the 2014 agreement on grocery store wine sales, he agreed not to take up the issue of Sunday sales for two years. "I said we need to give those [small] retailers time to adjust their business plan," Ketron said. Now, he said, some liquor store owners are seeing slower wine sales and want an extra sales day. Others don't, Ketron added, noting the Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association is split on the issue. He believes the retailers as well as the distributors' organization, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Tennessee, will be neutral on a bill. Ketron said he isn't sure whether the idea of allowing liquor stores to sell distilled spirits on Sunday will cause some lawmakers who supported grocery store wine sales law to back off. "That may complicate it a little, but I won't be sure until I actually introduce the bill," Ketron said. David McMahan, who lobbies for liquor store owners, acknowledged that group is split on Sunday sales.

Some of the state's 600 liquor stores are seeing a fall-off in wine sales and want to shore up business with Sunday sales, while others are not having problems and don't like the idea of having staff work seven days a week, he said. It also makes no sense for many stores to open on Sundays if they can't sell distilled spirits too, McMahan said. Until an actual bill is filed and his board can read it, sort through the implications and decide, it's difficult know how the group will respond. And liquor store owners will have to prioritize among issues, he said. The retailers will oppose efforts by grocery and convenience store chains to tinker with a provision that requires food stores to charge customers a 20 percent markup over their own costs, as well as one that bans wholesalers from physically stocking shelves in food stores. Such restrictions are "critical" for small businesses competing with huge national retailers, he said. "Wal-Mart and Costco have not been good for most communities in Tennessee," McMahan said.