Tell Albany: Wine and groceries are the pairing New York needs!
New York is just one of 10 states that doesn’t allow wine to be sold in grocery stores. This outdated law makes life harder for working families, and it’s time for that to change.
Wine in grocery stores is a common-sense reform that would:
Make life more affordable and convenient — Pick up dinner with a bottle of New York wine in one simple trip.
Boost New York’s wine industry — Expand opportunities for our wineries and vineyards to grow and thrive.
Support local businesses — Help independent grocers, co-ops, and neighborhood markets serve their communities.
Strengthen food security — Revenue from the legislation can help offset federal funding cuts and support food security programs.
Give the people what they want — Two statewide polls confirm that more than 75% of New Yorkers support wine in grocery stores.
Our coalition is growing everyday, with grocers, wineries, business groups, and consumer advocates all calling on New York’s leaders to act. To make this a reality in 2026, we need your help.
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In the News
FAQs
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New York is one of just 10 states that still bans wine sales in grocery stores, due to a Prohibition-era law. But momentum is building in Albany to finally modernize this outdated rule and let New Yorkers buy wine where they buy their food.
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More than 40 states allow consumers to buy wine in grocery stores, including Vermont, Florida, New Hampshire, Virginia, California, Tennessee, North Carolina and more. New York is behind the times.
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Yes, overwhelmingly. Multiple Siena College polls in 2025 found that more than 75% of New Yorkers support the idea. That support is broad and bipartisan — across Democrats, Republicans, independents, upstate, downstate, and every community in between.
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No. Our coalition is led by independent grocers, co-ops, neighborhood markets, and family-owned stores alongside regional chains. The National Supermarket Association, which represents hundreds of immigrant- and family-owned stores, has joined the effort. This isn’t about big corporations. It’s about supporting the stores that serve every New York community.
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New York’s wine industry, from the Finger Lakes to Long Island, needs new markets to grow. Allowing wine sales in grocery stores would expand opportunities for local vineyards and wineries to sell their products directly to more consumers, strengthening one of New York’s most important agricultural sectors.
Recent amendments to the legislation go even further: they would dedicate revenue from grocery store wine licenses directly to supporting New York’s wine industry, ensuring that wineries benefit from the reform while gaining broader visibility and customer reach. -
No. In 40+ states that already allow grocery store wine sales, liquor stores remain strong. Our proposal only applies to wine — not spirits, which make up the bulk of liquor store sales. Recent amendments would even allow liquor stores to expand their inventory, ensuring they continue to thrive.
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Absolutely not. Grocery stores already sell beer and cider and strictly enforce ID checks. This same system will apply to wine, ensuring purchases remain safe, legal, and responsible.
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Wine in grocery stores reflects Governor Hochul’s affordability agenda. It saves families time and money by making shopping more efficient and revenue from the wine sales can help close the SNAP gap and support food security programs.