UPDATE: Apparently we had a miscommunication with the ABC.  Hotels CANNOT sell spirits by the bottle.  Hotels can sell wine by the bottle in connection with food service, including room service.  There is no change in the policy.

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Old dogs can learn new tricks.  Today, we found out that the Tennessee ABC has been quietly advising that hotels can sell spirits by the bottle at gift shops, with some conditions.

Tennessee law generally prohibits the sale of bottles of spirits at any business holding an on-premise liquor license, like a restaurant or bar.  You cannot order a bottle of Jack Daniels to your table at a honky tonk.  Only wine can be sold by the bottle.

Hotels are a little different.  You have a room.  What you do in your room is your own business.  The ABC apparently recognized this difference.

Here are the rules for bottle sales, as we understand them:

The bottle must be opened by a hotel employee.  Guests cannot purchase a sealed bottle.
The bottles must be priced at or above cost.  Ensure that the bottle is scheduled on your price schedule filed with Revenue.
The hotel must pay the liquor-by-the-drink tax.
The bottle must be consumed on property. We strongly encourage hotels to post signage instructing that alcohol must be consumed in the hotel and cannot be taken off property.
The hotel must ID check to ensure the purchaser is 21 or over.

It logically follows that a hotel can also sell a bottle of spirits through room service.  We are cautiously advising hotels that it is legal to sell a bottle of Jack to a room, using the same guidelines.

Instead of signage, we recommend that the room service include a card that says that alcohol must be consumed in the hotel and cannot be taken off property.  We think most hotels will prefer to include a card that says that alcohol must be consumed in your room.  Who wants guests wandering around the property with drinks from their room?

Brings to mind a Van Halen classic, Take Your Whiskey Home:

Well, my baby, she don’t want me around
She said she’s tired of watchin’ me fall down
She wants the good life (ow) only the best
But I like that bottle better than the rest

We could not help noticing the enormous amounts of money donated by liquor industry associations in the second quarter of 2016.      Nothing really new, but it confirms just how important the state political process is to the wholesalers and retailers, which were massively impacted by wine in groceries (WIGS) and scored a number of victories in the final WIGS law.

According to our friends at The Tennessee Journal, the liquor wholesalers topped the list of all PACS with $106,000 contributed in the second quarter.  Although retail liquor stores were 11th on the list at $39,500, their stellar lobbyists – McMahan Winstead – donated an additional $45,250.

In comparison, the second highest contributor are the Teachers at $63,450.  The hotel restaurant association logged $42,500.

Reminds us of one of our favorite lines from a movie – Richard Pryor in the 1970’s classic “Car Wash”

Cause money walks…..and bullshit talks…

Food stores licensed to sell wine in Tennessee under WIGS can only stock certain kinds of wine.  As WIGS has rolled out, confusion over what can be sold at a grocery has been a major issue.

There are no final rules yet from the ABC – its early and we do not expect final rules yet – but here is our summary of what wine we believe a grocery store can sell in Tennessee:

Wine.  The law defines wine as being the product of fermented grapes.  Think Chardonnay, Merlot, Champagne.
Blackberry and other Fruit Wines.  As long as the wine is made from fermented berries, groceries can sell it.  Flavored fruit wines are probably not allowed.
Wine Coolers.  This is a product being discussed, but for now, wine coolers can be sold by grocery stores.
Beer up to 5% by weight, which is roughly 6.4% by volume.  This goes up to 8% by weight, roughly 10% by volume, starting January 1, 2017.

A grocery cannot sell:

Fortified alcoholic beverages, like port alcoholic beverages and sherry, unless the wine is under 18% alcohol by volume
MD 20/20, Thunderbird, Night Train and Wild Irish Rose are all under the maximum strength of alcoholic beverages and can be sold at food stores

Alcohol derived from alcoholic beverages that has had substantial changes to the alcoholic beverages due to the addition of flavorings and additives
Sake
Spirits like whiskey, vodka and run
Liqueurs and cordials like Frangelico, Schnapps, Baileys and Grand Marnier
Beer over 5% alcohol by weight or 6.4% alcohol by volume

Our buddy Willa reminds us of the Gordon Lightfoot tune Blackberry Wine:

There’s a new moon risin’ and the wind sings its old song
Pass it on over it’s a sin to be sober too long

Wine in groceries has been legal in Tennessee for just 18 days.  But the WIGS law seems to have raised more questions than answers.

The statutory 20% minimum markup has been a constant source of questions for grocers.  Here is one of our favorites:

When the wholesale price of wine drops, what is the minimum price that can be charged?

For example, say you have purchased wine at $10 per bottle.  You price the wine at $12, the lowest legal price.

The wholesaler offers you the same wine for $9 a bottle.  You can price this at $10.80.  You buy the $9 wine, but have wine on the shelves that you purchased at $10.

Can you sell the all of the wine at $10.80, including the wine you purchased at $10?

Our best guess is yes.  We think the last invoice price will be the rule for WIGS pricing.  Look to the last invoice price and make sure the price is marked up at least 20%.

The Eagles comes to mind:

Wastin’ our time
On cheap talk and wine

There is no guidance from the ABC yet.  Given the huge number of WIGS questions, we do not fault the ABC.  Things are moving at the speed of light.

Moments ago, TABC Director Clay Byrd released final guidance for wine in grocery stores, which we affectionately call WIGS.  Here is your very own copy.

WIGS has been live for consumers for 11 days, but the euphoria is still palpable.  We hear the Pointer Sisters classic:

I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
I’m about to lose control and I think I like it

Shot gun marriage pretty much sums it up.  For distilleries, wineries and breweries, choosing a wholesaler in Tennessee is like marrying your high school sweat heart.  She may look great when you are in high school, but as you grow older, you have to ask “Did I find the right partner for life.”

Unlike your high school sweat heart, divorce is not really an option for your Tennessee wholesaler.  Tennessee law protects wholesalers and makes terminating the relationship practically impossible.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue recently issued a guideline for terminating a wholesale contract.  Download a copy here Guide.

Wholesale termination reminds us of the J. Geils Band tune: