MTSU Poll: Majority want wine in grocery stores on The Murfreesboro Post

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MTSU Poll: Majority want wine in grocery stores

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By: THE MURFREESBORO POST

Posted: Saturday, February 9, 2013 10:15 am

MTSU Poll: Majority want wine in grocery stores | Wine in Grocery Stores, Poll, MTSU, Politics, College of Mass Communication, Tennessee, Religion

State Rep. Jon Lundberg (center) and Sen. Bill Ketron discuss their proposal to allow referendums be held regarding wine in grocery stores during a Jan. 31, 2013, press conference in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo submitted)

With the familiar debate over whether grocery stores should be allowed to sell wine under Tennessee law, previous results from a Middle Tennessee State University poll indicate widespread support for the proposal.

In the spring 2011 statewide poll, 69 percent of Tennesseans said they were in favor of groceries being allowed to sell wine, while only 17 percent were opposed and 13 percent were undecided.

This was an increase in support compared with the spring of 2009, when researchers found 62 percent of Tennesseans in favor of the idea, 26 percent opposed and 12 percent undecided. However, only the decline in opposition was statistically significant — the other changes were within the margins of error.

In terms of public opinion in the state, opposition to wine in grocery stores seems to be driven primarily by political ideology and religious beliefs.

The highest level of support was exhibited by self-identified political liberals and moderates who said they attended worship services seldom or never. On the other hand, the highest levels of opposition were exhibited by Tennesseans who strongly identified with conservative evangelical Christian beliefs.

“Though business interests and law enforcement are also important parts of the conversation, in terms of public opinion, Tennesseans have clearly been in favor of grocery stores being allowed to sell wine for some time,” said Jason Reineke, associate director of the MTSU Poll, who is a professor in the College of Mass Communication.

Tagged under College of Mass Communication, MTSU, Politics, Poll, Religion, Tennessee, Wine in Grocery Stores

Member Opinions:

By: AtypicalMale on 2/9/13
"On the other hand, the highest levels of opposition were exhibited by Tennesseans who strongly identified with conservative evangelical Christian beliefs." - If those individuals wish to not purchase wine in groceries, that is their prerogative; they should not, however, have their religiously based viewpoint be a reasoning for preventing others from doing so.

This issue is well beyond the point of ridiculousness, at this point. Put this to a vote by the people on the ballot, and we'll be done with it once and for all, as (I feel) the resolution will pass by a landslide.

Let's see if 'our' legislators can do what is right, and let the people of the state decide this issue.

By: postlooker22 on 2/10/13
this is not a good thing. it seems like a good idea because, hey we can get everything in one stop. but, let us think what will happen if you can buy wine in the grocery store. about half of the standing liquor stores will close because business will decline. these are hardworking local business men, and we want to give all of our money to a company that probably isnt headquartered in out state. I say we let the local people keep our money.