Post on 06-Apr-2018
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FMI WINESTUDY
The Economic Impact of
Allowing Shoppers toPurchase Wine in Food Stores
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For questions or comments, please contact:
Patrick A. Davis, V.P. State Government Relations, Food Marketing Institute
pdavis@fmi.org
T. 202-220-0637Vickie Brown, Manager, Research, Food Marketing Institute
vbrown@fmi.org
T. 202-220-0729
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is the national trade association that conducts programs in public affairs,
food safety, research, education, and industry relations on behalf of its 1,500 member companiesfood
retailers and wholesalersin the United States and around the world. FMIs members in the United Statesoperate approximately 26,000 retail food stores and 15,000 pharmacies. Their combined annual sales
volume of $680 billion represents three-quarters of all retail food store sales in the United States. FMIs
retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms, and independent supermarkets.
Our international membership includes 200 companies from more than 50 countries. FMIs associate
members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
Published by:
Food Marketing Institute
2345 Crystal City, Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22202
Printed in the U.S.A.
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Executive SummaryThe 21st Amendment to the Constitution, which repealed Prohibition in 1933, authorized each of the states
to make its own rules for the sale of alcoholic beverages. In most states, some version of a three-tier
system was created. Tier one is composed of producers, tier two is comprised of distributors (also known
as wholesalers), and tier three is made up of retailers/restaurants/bars. Each is licensed by the individual
states, with producers and distributors also licensed by Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau of the
U.S. Department of the Treasury. In 18 states 1 (and Montgomery County, Maryland), that came to be
called control states, the state also directly assumes aspects of the distribution and/or retailing roles, for
some or all beverage alcohol products. Distributors also became the tax collectors for the state, collecting
liquor excise taxes and occasionally other taxes, as well as providing state governments with detailed
reports to track the movement of alcoholic beverages.
The vast majority of U.S. states -- 33 states and the District of Columbia -- permit food stores to sell wine,
as listed in Table 12. The table also notes some of the sales restrictions adopted by these states.
Table 1: States Allowing Wine Sales in Food Stores
State Related Regulations
Alabama Local option
Sunday blue laws
Arizona n.a.
California n.a.
D.C. Only beer and wine allowed in groceries, not spir its
Florida Only beer and wine allowed in groceries, not spiritsGeorgia Sunday blue laws*
Hawaii n.a.
Idaho Spirits may only be sold in state stores.
Illinois n.a.
Indiana No cold beer may be sold in food stores.
Iowa A Class AA High Alcohol Content Beer Permit (BAA) allows the manufacture
and sale of high proof beer at wholesale to licensed retailer.
Louisiana n.a.
Maine Beverages with ABV greater than 15.5% may only be sold in state-contracted stores.
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1Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah,Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and Montgomery County, Maryland.
2Local option allows local communities (counties, townships, etc) to determine, by vote or local government action, aspects of liquorlicensing for their region. Sunday blue laws are the traditional term for restrictions on beverage alcohol sales on Sundays. n.a. in theRelated Regulations column indicate no relevant regulations apply.
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Maryland Counties may choose alcohol sales arrangements, including Sunday blue
laws.
The wholesale distribution of beer, wine, and spirits in Montgomery,Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties is conducted by the county,which also operates wine and liquor stores.
Michigan Local option on Sunday sales
Missouri n.a.Montana Beverages with ABV greater than 16% sold only in state-contracted stores
Nebraska n.a.
Nevada n.a.
New
Hampshire
The state licenses wine and liquor outlets to third parties and operates 76stores itself selling wine and spirits, along with two wholesale warehouses.1,300 grocery stores sell wine and beer
New Mexico Local option on Sunday sales
North
Carolina
Beer and wine may be sold in food stores, but liquor may be sold only in
state stores.
North
Dakota
n.a.
Ohio Beverages with ABV greater than 21% sold only in state agent stores
Oregon Liquor stores are sales agents for state
South
Carolina
Beverages with ABV greater than 16% are sold only in package stores; localoption on wine in food storesSunday blue laws
South
Dakota
Groceries may apply for additional off-sale liquor licenses with the
exception of towns where there are municipal liquor stores.
Texas Food stores need an additional license to sell beverages with ABV greaterthan 15.5%.
City/county option
22 dry counties
Sunday blue laws
Vermont State distributes beverages exceeding 15% ABV
Virginia Beverages with ABV greater than 14% may be sold only in state stores.
Local option
Washington Spirits sold only in state stores**
West Virginia State wholesales spirits
Wisconsin n.a.
Wyoming n.a.
Source: State Alcohol Control Boards laws and regulations. *The Georgia Legislature enacted a local-option statutein the spring of 2011, allowing cities and counties to hold referendums on Sunday Blue Laws restricting alcoholsales. In November 2011, 105 of 127 cities and counties overwhelmingly approved referendums allowing alcoholsales on Sundays. **In the wake of the passage of Initiative 1183 (which faces various legal challenges) all wine
distribution and retail sales in the state of Washington will be done through private wholesale and retail systems.Wineries may continue to either sell through a wholesaler, or with the proper endorsement to their operatingcertificates, directly to retail accounts. Grocery store chains will be able to utilize centralized warehousingprocedures under the new system, allowing a winery or wholesaler to deliver to one central point for distributionthroughout the chains stores. All state-operated retail outlets and warehousing operations will cease operations onJune 1, 2012 barring any actions by the courts.
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Several states prohibit the sale of all alcoholic beverages in food stores, giving a monopoly on such sales
to single-purpose stores, known as package stores. Over the years, however, several of these states
have opened their markets, at least to wine, or beer, or wine and beer, but 17 states, listed in Table 2 below,
still prohibit or severely limit, the sale of wine in food stores.
Table 2: States Limiting Wine Sales in Food Stores
State Additional Special Characteristics
Alaska Only package stores may sell any beverage alcohol.
Arkansas Food stores only allowed to sell wine from producers making less than 250,000
gallons of wine
Colorado Food stores restricted from selling wine; Package stores limited to single location
Connecticut Food stores restricted from selling wine; Sunday blue laws
Delaware Food stores restricted from selling wine
Kansas Food stores restricted from selling wine; Local option for on-premise and Sunday
sales; only 17 counties allow general on-premises sales
Kentucky Food stores restricted from selling wine; Local option for all alcohol sales,
including Sunday sales, with multiple dry counties; Local communities may allowpackage-store sales of liquor by the drink or sales at wineries.
Massachusetts* Food stores are allowed three outlets per license to sell wine. Licenses are limited
to local individuals. All other alcoholic beverages are sold through package stores.
Minnesota Food stores restricted from selling wine; Sunday blue laws
Mississippi Food stores are restricted from sell ing wine. Beverages with ABV greater than 5%
must be sold in state-contracted stores. Sunday blue laws; local option
New Jersey Food stores are allowed only two outlets per license to sell wine; food stores
otherwise restricted from selling wine; package stores are allowed only a single
outlet license.
New York Food stores may sell beer but are restricted from selling wine. Package stores
allowed only a single outlet license to sell wine and spirits, not beer
Oklahoma Food stores restricted from selling wine; Sunday blue laws
Pennsylvania All alcoholic beverages sold only through state package stores
Rhode Island Food stores restricted from selling wine
Tennessee Food stores restricted from selling wine; package stores limited to single outlet
licenses, with licensee required to be local resident
Utah Food stores restricted from selling wine; Sunday blue laws
Source: State Alcohol Control Board laws and regulations *The Massachusetts House passed S.2033, legislation that increases thenumber of liquor licenses an entity can hold for off-premise consumption.An agreement to increase the license limit staggeredover an eight year period was called for. The legislation would allow an entity to apply for two more licenses to sell alcohol for offpremise consumption, upon local approval in 2012 for a total of five, two more in 2016 for a total of seven and two more in 2020 fora total of nine licenses.
The objective of these laws and regulations was to constrain and monitor the availability of alcoholic
beverages so as to discourage alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, these regulations have had several
unintended consequences:
Reduced consumer choice and convenience, as reflected in Table 3 below, requiring consumers tosearch out a limited number of specialized stores and make additional shopping trips to buy wine;
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Table 3: Retail Outlets for Wine
Total Number of Retail
Outlets for WineTotal Adult Population
Adult Population per
Retail Outlet for Wine
Open States 155,327 155,733,379 1,003
Closed States 16,387 67,039,711 4,091
Source: Adams Wine Handbook 2010 and state agencies
Created alcohol-retailing monopolies, with limited business opportunities and artificially constrainedbusiness strategies3 dependent on state protection;
Deprives states of significant revenues from additional license fees, from sales taxes on potentialincremental wine sales, and revenue generated by increased employment and business profitability, assummarized in Table 4 below and discussed on pages 16 and 17;
Table 4: Projected Tax Revenues Generated by Reducing Restrictions on Wine Sales in Food
Stores
Federal Tax State & Local Tax
Total Federal Tax Revenues $1,941,341,576 Total State and Local Taxes $3,316,681,377
Total Projected Increase in T ax Collections $5,258,02 ,953.00Source: Stonebridge Research Group LLC, U.S. Economic Census and IMPLAN
Reduced employment opportunities that would be generated in food stores (and in other businesses)when they add these products to their offerings, as summarized in Table 5 and discussed on pages 12 to16;
Table 5: Projected Impact on U.S. Employment of Allowing Shoppers to Purchase Wine in Food
Stores
Jobs Created
Direct Employment 37,352
Indirect Employment Impact 59,682
Induced Employment Impact 71,211
Total Employment Impact 168,245
Source: U.S. Economic Census, Industry Interviews, IMPLAN, Stonebridge Research Group LLC
Reduced sales and profitability of food retailers, for whom wines sales may directly represent between2% and 12% of total sales revenue, while also generating significant additional sales per shopping trip,as shown in Table 12;
By separating the sale of wine from the sale of other foods, healthier consumption of wine with meals isdiscouraged in favor of consumption of wine merely for its alcoholic components.
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3Most states that limit beverage alcohol sales to package stores also limit the other products these stores may sell, in some caseseliminating all other products, as well as restricting other business practices, whether offering chilled beverages or carrying products tocustomer cars.
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The next section of this report examines these issues in detail. The conclusions of this analysis include:
Impact on Package Stores
The calculations in the study consider the impact of partially reducing the sizable gap in retail access to
wine in restricted states by the issuance of 5% increase in new off-premise4 wine sales licenses. This
expansion in licenses would reduce total package store sales by only 2.52%, as explained on page 12.
Analysis of store counts across the states, in which food stores and package stores both sell wine,
demonstrates that package stores can and do successfully continue in business and to even increase in
number in those states in which wine is sold in the food channel, as shown in Appendix 1. This analysis
found that, in 22 of the 34 states and the District of Columbia, the number of package stores increased
and, in one other, the number was stable. In 12 states, the number of package stores declined, but in most
of those cases the number of food stores also declined, indicating broader economic factors (than
competition for wine sales) were likely involved.
In addition, in several states in which opening of the wine market is under consideration, food retailers have
proposed a variety of compensating measures for existing license holders, ranging from protectedgeographic zones around existing smaller stores, to transfer surcharges shared by existing license holders
and/or allowing the existing license holders to expand their product offerings or to obtain multiple licenses
themselves to grow their businesses.
These compensating measures should protect many of the existing package store businesses. In many
cases, these measures would add value to existing liquor licenses, by increasing demand and thus their
transfer value, should the license holder choose to sell his license.
Altogether, opening the market for wine sales will have minimal impact on existing package stores.
Methodology
In conducting this study, Stonebridge Research Group reviewed data on wine sales and store counts in
multiple states, wine consumption, alcohol abuse data, and U.S. Government data and interviewed state-
level contacts and multiple parties in the beverage alcohol and food marketing industries, drawing as well
on Stonebridges extensive prior research on the business of wine. The findings from the research were
then entered into the IMPLAN model, described below, to determine the overall employment, revenue, and
tax impacts of the actions being examined.
Direct, Indirect and Induced Effects (IMPLAN)
Much like dropping a pebble into a pond, changes in any one industry, or sector of the U.S. economy, has
ripple effects across the entire economy. Economic impact studies estimate the impact of an industry in a
defined geographical area by identifying and measuring specific concrete economic events.
The impact of events tracked in this report are changes in food store and package store sales. The
geographic area in this study is the total U.S.
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4Off-premise refers to the sale of beverage alcohol in closed packages for consumption in another location, as contrasted with on-premise, where beverage alcohol is sold at the location where it is consumed.
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IMPLAN is the acronym for IMpact analysis for PLANing. IMPLAN is a well established and widely used
economic model that uses input-output analyses and tables for over 500 industries to estimate regional
and industry-specific economic impacts of changes in a specific industry.
The IMPLAN model and its structure are updated annually to reflect changes in the U.S. economy, in
wages, in productivity assumptions, and in regional economic structures.
The IMPLAN model grew out of work initially developed by the U.S. Forest Service working with the
University of Minnesota in 1983. It is the standard model for analyzing regional economic activity and
impacts, used by hundreds of organizations in federal, state and local governments, universities and the
private sector, including the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the National Agricultural
Statistics Service of U.S.D.A.
Conclusion
The study concludes that the benefits of allowing wine sales in food stores in terms of job creation,
government revenues, and consumer choice, far outweigh any potential negative impacts.
Enabling wine to be sold in 8,489 food stores in states that currently restrict such sales is estimated to
produce a total economic impact of $14.3 billion, including a net increase of more than 168,000 jobs
across the U.S. and incremental tax collections of more than $3.3 billion at the state and local level
and of more than $1.9 billion at the federal level.
Table 6: Total Projected Economic Impact of Allowing Shoppers to Purchase Wine in Food Stores
Impact
Total Wage Impact $7,242,595,248
Total Revenue Impact $1,827,548,986
Total State and Local Tax $3,316,881,377
Total Federal Tax $1,941,341,578Total Economic Impact $14,328,367,189
Source: Stonebridge Research Group LLC, IMPLAN, Industry Interviews. U.S. Economic Census, 2007 and U.S. B.L.S. data.
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This market expansion in licenses is projected to reduce total package store sales by only 2.52%. Most
package stores are likely to sustain their businesses, as they have in most states with open markets, or
take advantage of the mitigations offered through market reform to redeem the increased value of their
licenses.
While adapting to a changing economic environment is often difficult, those states that have made the
change found their fears of a dramatic decline in sales were unjustified.
Allowing food stores to sell wine will return wine to its appropriate and traditional role as part of a meal,
encouraging healthy consumption while increasing consumer choice and convenience.
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Table of Contents
.........................................................................................................The Analysis 11...................................................................................Consumer Access and Consumer Choice 11
..............................................................................................................Table 7: Retail Outlets for Wine 11....................................Reducing Restrictions to Open Markets and Increase Consumer Access 12
......................................................................Table 8: Potential Increase in U.S. Retail Outlets for Wine 12.....................................................................................................................Food Store Impacts 12
...........................................................................................Table 9: Direct Impact on Food Store Sales 12..................................................................................................Implications for Package Stores 13
.................................................................................Table 10: Package Stores Sales and Employment 14...............................................................Competitive Implications for Existing Package Stores 14
.............Table 11: Store Count Overview, 2001 to 2009, for States Allowing Wine Sales in Food Stores 14.............................................................................................................Other Economic Impacts 15
.............................................................................................Impact on Wine Sales in the U.S. 15...........................................................................................Table 12: Direct Impact on U.S. Wine Sales 15
.................................................................................................Table 13: Impact on U.S. Wine Industry 16........................................................................................Impact on Wine Distribution Industry 16
.........................................................................................Table 14: Direct Impact on Wine Distribution 16......................................................................................................Overall Employment Impact 16
Table 15: Projected Impact on U.S. Employment of Allowing Shoppers to Purchase Wine in Food Stores 16............................................................................................Impact on Government Revenues 17
.Table 16: Projected Tax Revenues Generated by Allowing Shoppers to Purchase Wine in Food Stores 17..............................................................................................................Total Economic Impacts 18
.....Table 17: Total Projected Economic Impact of Allowing Shoppers to Purchase Wine in Food Stores 18...............................................................................Appendix 1: Food and Package Store Count 19
.................................................................Appendix 2: Wine Consumption by State, 2008-2009 19..................................Appendix 3: Density of Retail Outlets for Wine, Open Market States, 2010 21
................................................Appendix 4: Density of Retail Outlets for Wine, Restricted States 22.....................................................................................About Stonebridge Research Group LLC 23
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The Analysis
Consumer Access and Consumer Choice
The economic impact of differential wine retailing regulation among states varies by culture, local industrialstructure, and demographics, as well as other factors. For example, wine consumption tends to be higher
in tourism-driven economies, whether Las Vegas or Branson, Missouri. Moreover, the demographics of
wine consumers are well documented; wine consumers tend to be college educated, from households with
incomes greater than $75,000. Ethnicity may also influence wine consumption; the wine industry in many
states was founded in the 19th and early 20th centuries by European immigrants, bringing from home a
culture of wine making and consumption.
The interplay of geography and public policy can influence wine consumption as well; higher tax states
often drive sales into adjacent states, whatever the regulatory environment. Thus, Connecticut and New
Jersey may gain overflow sales from higher-taxed New York, and Missouri may gain sales from higher-
taxed Tennessee.
Consequently, as Appendix 1 shows, wine consumption patterns vary significantly among states, reflecting
all of these variables.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the restrictions on wine sales channels have distorted the structure of wine
markets in several states. As summarized in Table 7, closed states allow consumers far less choice in retail
access to wine than do states with more open markets. If food stores in closed states were allowed to offer
wine, it is reasonable to assume that the density of outlets per adult would move closer to the average
found among open states. The actual number of new licenses issued would, of course, vary widely among
states.
As detailed in Appendices 3 and 4, the density of retail outlets among nearly all of the closed states issignificantly higher than among most of the open states 5, despite the wide variations in both wine
consumption among the states and in their beverage alcohol regulations. The density of outlets, and thus
opportunities for consumer choice, in the closed states also diverges significantly from that of the U.S. as a
whole.
Table 7: Retail Outlets for Wine
Total Number of Retail
Outlets for WineTotal Adult Population
Adult Population per
Retail Outlet for Wine
Open States 155,327 155,733,379 1,003
Closed States 16,387 67,039,711 4,091
Total U.S. 171,714 222,773,090 1,297Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau
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5A few states appear as outliers. Several New England states have quite high density of small package stores.
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Reducing Restrictions to Open Markets and Increase Consumer Access
In Table 8 below, we show the impact of increasing the number of retail outlets per adult to bring the
density of outlets in currently closed states to just half of that currently found in the U.S. as a whole, i.e., to
grow the number of outlets from one per 4,091 adults to one outlet per 2,695 adults. Such a license
expansion would represent only a 5% increase in total U.S. off-premise licenses to sell wine, while creating
8,489 new off-premise wine sales outlets and licenses.
We have assumed that these new licenses would be awarded by auction, or similar open process, to food
stores to enhance consumer convenience and generate the other benefits described in this study.
Table 8: Potential Increase in U.S. Retail Outlets for Wine
Number of Outlets
Current U.S. Retail Outlets for Wine 171,587
Estimated Incremental Retail Outlets for Wine 8,489
Increase in U.S. Retail Outlets for Wine 4.95%
Source: Stonebridge Research Group and Adams Wine Handbook
Food Store Impacts
Currently, across the U.S., sales of wine represent between 2% and 12% of total food store sales revenue,
depending on region, based on Stonebridges survey of the food store industry.
Several years of food store Infoscan6 data have shown that consumers tend to buy a more expensive
basket of goods per shopping trip when they shop for wine at food stores, producing an incremental sale
of about $20, beyond the cost of the wine purchased. Thus, allowing food stores in restricted states to sell
wine would not only increase their sales by the volume and value of the wine sold, but would likely increase
overall store sales due to this basket effect of shopping for wine.
Table 9: Direct Impact on Food Store Sales
Average Revenue per Store 5,388,893
6% Sales Increase per Average Store 323,334
Total U.S. Food Store Sales Increase, for 8,489
stores receiving licenses to sell wine2,744,782,326
Total U.S. Food Store Employment 2,462,730
Increased U.S. Food Store Employment 7,973
Total U.S. Food Store Payroll $54,666,290,000
Increase in U.S. Food Store Payroll $176,983,904
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Stonebridge Research Group LLC
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6Infoscan data is collected from the price scanner machines at check out of most food and drug stores, especially chain stores, andanalyzed by Information Resources Inc. and The Nielsen Company, to track and report sales patterns by dollar, volume, and region.
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The Economic Census of the United States estimates average sales per outlet of food retailers at $5.4
million. Assuming only a 6% average increase in food store sales from adding wine to their offerings, the
average food store would see a $323,334 increase in sales. Thus, adding wine to 8,489 food retail outlets,
as defined in Table 9, would increase total food store revenue across the U.S. by $2.7 billion.
Employment in the stores would likely increase by some proportion of this increase in sales. Assuming a
3.3% increase in employment per store, total food store employment in the U.S. would increase by 7,973,
with an increase in total wages of almost $177 million. This number does not include the impact of the
basket effect on store revenues and employment, as well as the many suppliers to these stores, and thus
understates the full impact of grocery store expansion.
Implications for Package Stores
When analyzing the impact of this expansion on employment and revenues in existing package stores,
some key facts about the U.S. wine market need to be considered:
Competition for wine sales would significantly impact a relatively small segment of package stores
and jobs.
Wine sales are highly concentrated in a relatively small segment of the U.S. population. Two-thirds
of all wine sales in the U.S. are purchased by about 26%7 of all wine consumers. Moreover, while
more than 40% of American adults consume wine at some point, only about 14% of U.S. adults
consume wine weekly.
Nationally, more than 50% of wine is purchased by women8, who traditionally are uncomfortable in
conventional package stores. Women thus tend to buy wine in food stores, or not buy it at all.
Sales to these customers would, therefore, be incremental to those currently occurring in package
stores.
Wine represents between 10% and 60% of total package store sales9, depending on the
demographics of the particular store.
If we assume that as much as one-third of the incremental wine sales at food stores would be shifted from
package stores, representing about $914 million in sales, this shift, based on U.S. Economic Census data,
would equal about 2.52% of total U.S. package store sales. In the unlikely case that all of this decline in
sales would be translated into job loss, a total of 3,560 jobs in package stores might be at risk across the
U.S. However, as noted earlier, the proponents of reform have proposed several mitigations designed to
moderate this job impact, including ensuring protected zones around existing stores, expanding product
offerings in package stores, and allowing package stores to hold multiple licenses to expand their regional
footprints and grow their brands. Introducing food stores into the market for wine sale licenses will increase
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7Understanding and Enhancing the Market for California Wine in the U.S., a study conducted by Yankelovich Partners for the WineInstitute, 2005. Also The Nielsen Company and various studies conducted by Stonebridge Research Group LLC, 2008-2011.
8Ibid
9Stonebridge Research Group LLC industry surveys
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the value of these licenses, providing compensation to existing license holders and increased demand for
their experienced employees.
Table 10: Package Stores Sales and Employment
Total Current Package Store Sales in U.S. $36,300,000,000Loss of Package Store Sales, Assuming One-
Third of Sales Shifted from Package Stores
$914,000,000
Resulting Percentage Loss of Sales in Package
Stores
2.52%
Total Package Store Employment in U.S. 141,255
Implied package stores jobs at risk 3,560
Total Package Store Payroll in U.S. $2,600,000,000
Implied Package Store Payroll at risk $65,465,565
Source: U.S. Economic Census and Stonebridge Research Group LLC
Competitive Implications for Existing Package Stores
The data indicates that package stores have successfully competed with food stores selling wine in most
states with open markets. Package stores may even benefit from greater wine awareness stimulated by
new visibility in food stores.
Appendix 1, summarized in Table 11, shows the changes in the number of food stores and package stores
that have occurred over the past decade in the states allowing wine sales in food stores. The table
indicates that, contrary to expressed concerns by the liquor store sector, the number of such stores
continues to increase in most states. Specifically, in 22 of the 34 states and the District of Columbia, the
number of package stores increased and in one, the number remained stable. Moreover, in most states in
which package store counts declined, the food store count also declined, suggesting more general
economic factors at work.
Table 11: Store Count Overview, 2001 to 2009, for States Allowing Wine Sales in Food Stores
Number of States %
Number of Package Stores Increased 22 63%
Number of Package Stores Declined 12 34%
Package Store Count Constant 1 3%
Total (including Washington D.C.) 35 100%
Source: Appendix 1, Adams Wine Handbook 2010, Economic Census of the U.S., U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and StonebridgeResearch Group LLC.
Understanding of the wine business partly explains package stores resilience:
Having wine in the food stores that consumers regularly visit increases awareness of the product,
raising the overall interest in the sector, ultimately benefiting the more specialized retailer.
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Few food stores provide specialized wine sales staff or offer more expensive wines. The average
grocery store shelf set for wine is about 470 SKUs 10, while specialty wine and liquor retailers tend
to carry a much wider and more varied selection. Consumers seeking specialized assistance and a
broader selection thus tend to search out specialized retailers. These retailers then can sell more
and higher margin products, enabling such stores to thrive alongside food stores selling wine.
Extensive consumer research indicates that wine consumers typically buy wine in several price
segments11 and thus, these two retail channels are complementary.
In addition, the food retailing industry in various states has offered mitigations to package stores in order
to soften the impact of allowing food stores to sell wine. These mitigations have focused on reducing
negative impacts on smaller, so-called mom and pop stores, and increasing the value of existing liquor
retailing licenses. Such mitigations include location restrictions on new stores, allowing existing stores to
share in fees generated by new licenses or in transfer fees for existing licenses, permitting package stores
to expand product offerings (snack foods and similar foods, beer, ancillary products) and allowing current
licensees to have multiple licenses to grow their businesses.
Other Economic Impacts
This retail expansion will impact numerous sectors, a few of which are highlighted below.
Impact on Wine Sales in the U.S.
The estimated net increase in total wine sales in the U.S. of $1.8 billion is equivalent to a more than 6%
increase in total 2010 U.S. wine sales.
Table 12: Direct Impact on U.S. Wine Sales
Total U.S. Food Sales Increase, for 9,668 stores
receiving licenses to sell wine
$2,741,548,986
Sales Shift from Package Stores $914,000,000
Net Increase in U.S. Wine Sales $1,827,548,986
Total U.S. Wine Sales, 2010 $30,000,000,000
Increased Wine Sales as % of Total U.S. Wine
Sales6.09%
Increased U.S. Sales of American Wine $1,414,522,915
Source: Gomberg-Fredrikson, Wine Institute and Stonebridge Research Group LLC
As 77.4% of U.S. wine sales are wines produced in the U.S., this market expansion would represent a
more than $1.4 billion increase in sales of wine from American producers, with substantial indirect
impacts on related industries, from distributors and restaurants to grape growers, farm equipment
suppliers, and barrel, bottle and tank makers.
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10Stonebridge Research industry research and studies by The Nielsen Company.
11Understanding and Enhancing the Market for California Wine in the U.S., a study conducted by Yankelovich Partners for the WineInstitute, 2005 and various surveys conducted by Stonebridge Research Group, 2008-2011.
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Table 13: Impact on U.S. Wine Industry
Increased Wine Industry and RelatedEmployment
31,290
Increased Wine Industry and RelatedWages
$602,192,050
Source: The Impact of Wine, Grapes and Grape Products on the American Economy, 2007, MKF Research LLC for The NationalWine and grape Initiative.
Impact on Wine Distribution Industry
A 6% increase in U.S. wine sales would require comparable expansion in the U.S. wine distribution
industry, as indicated in Table 13 below.
Table 14: Direct Impact on Wine Distribution
Increased Wine Distributor Revenue $274,154,899
Increased Wine Distributor Employment 1,659
Increased Distributor Wages $114.501.208
Source: U.S. Economic Census and Stonebridge Research Group LLC
Overall Employment Impact
Allowing food stores to sell wine in those states in which such sales are now restricted, would generate
more than 168,000 new jobs across the U.S. and more than $7.2 billion in additional wages in food
retailing, wine production, and distribution and allied industries, after allowing for the 3,560 package store
jobs possibly at risk, including indirect and induced employment as calculated by the IMPLAN model. For
example, increased wine sales will necessitate expansion by wine wholesalers/distributors in the affected
states, along with expanded production and employment by wine producers, importers, and the varied
suppliers to all of these businesses.
Table 15: Projected Impact on U.S. Employment of Allowing Shoppers to Purchase Wine in FoodStores
Jobs Created Wages Generated
Direct Employment 37,352 $827,975,345
of which
Food Store Job Growth 7,963 $176,747,652
Package Store Job Loss (3,560) ($65,465,565)
Wine Wholesale/ Distribution 1,659 $114,501,208
Winemaking and Related Industries 31,290 $602,192,050
Indirect Employment 59,682 $3,156,945,213
Induced Employment 71,211 $3,257,674,690
Total Employment Impact 168,245 $7,242,595,248
Source: Stonebridge Research Group LLC, IMPLAN, U.S. Economic Census and Industry Interviews
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Impact on Government Revenues
In addition to employment, sales, income, and business taxes generated by the additional retail sales and
new job creation, these legislative changes would generate nearly $48 million in incremental federal excise
taxes and $13.4 million incremental state excise taxes on wine, assuming an average state excise tax rate
of only $.30 per gallon. This is the lowest such rate prevailing among the states with restrictions and thus
the real revenue would likely be much larger.
State and local governments also would receive new fee income from issuance and sale of wine sale
licenses and the emergence of a secondary market for such licenses in these states. Research has found
that jurisdictions will allow (supervised) resale of existing licenses, rather than returning licenses to the state
for re-issue, or have auctioned off licenses which have been returned to the state have generated
substantial funds for state (and often local) governments. Private sales of licenses have generated as much
as $250,000 in auctions in New Jersey and $500,000 in smaller communities in Florida while license sales
in California each may raise $25,000 or more12.
For this analysis, we have assumed licenses are issued by public auction with an average state license fee
of up to $2,500 and a local government license fee of $200,000, substantially below recent license auctionsin some states 13. This analysis assumes such fees are generated in one period when, in fact, such
transactions may develop over several years. States also generally charge annual or biennial renewal fees
for such licenses.
Altogether, reducing restrictions on wine sales in food stores will generate incremental Federal tax
revenues of more than $1.9 billion and incremental state and local tax revenues of more than $3.3
billion.
Table 16: Projected Tax Revenues Generated by Allowing Shoppers to Purchase Wine in Food
Stores
Federal Tax State & Local TaxSocial Insurance $835,103,968 Payroll Taxes $20,084,896
Proprietor Income $113,479,544 New License Fees* $1,719,022,500
Indirect Business Taxes $253,854,688 Indirect Business Taxes $1,308,922,675
Income Taxes $584,916,416 Income Taxes $135,751,094
Corporate Profits Tax $153,986,960 Corporate Taxes $133,100,212
Total Federal Tax Revenues $1,941,341,576 Total State and Local Taxes $3,316,881,377
Total Projected Increase in ax Collections $ ,258,222,953Source: Stonebridge Research Group LLC, IMPLAN, Industry Interviews and U.S. Economic Census
To allocate these potential impacts by state requires assumptions about patterns of state-by-state license
transfers and issuance.
Fees for new licenses vary widely among states and localities, as do regulations for transfers of existing
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12 The Florida sales were private party sales but proposed arrangements for licenses would recommend that food stores acquiringthese licenses share part of the proceeds of these sales with the relevant jurisdictions.
13In some regions, auctions for new retail liquor licenses have generated more than $500,000 per license.
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licenses. Several states retain population limits on the number of licenses issued. Where such licenses are
already fully subscribed, allowing food stores to sell wine will increase the value of existing licenses by
increasing demand for license transfers. Some states have no charge for license transfers, which are
entirely private transactions. Other states do not permit license transfer, but require licenses to be
surrendered to the jurisdiction for reissue. This table therefore is for illustration only; the market and policy
situation, as well as the fees and issuance process for licenses, within each state are unique and thuslicense issuance patterns could vary significantly.
Total Economic Impacts
Enabling wine to be sold in 8,489 food stores in states that today restrict such sales is estimated to
produce a total economic impact of $14.3 billion, including a net increase of more than 168,000 jobs
across the U.S. and incremental tax collections of more than $3.3 billion at the state and local levels
and of more than $1.9 billion at the federal level.
Table 17: Total Projected Economic Impact of Allowing Shoppers to Purchase Wine in Food Stores
Total Wage Impact $7,242,595,248
Total Revenue Impact $1,827,548,986
Total State and Local Tax $3,316,881,377
Total Federal Tax $1,941,341,576
Total Economic Impact $14,328,367,187
Source: Stonebridge Research Group LLC, IMPLAN, Industry Interviews. U.S. Economic Census, 2007 and U.S. BLS data.
Conclusions
Allowing food stores to acquire wine sale licenses would increase consumer choice, reduce artificial
barriers to wine consumption, and expand the market for wine in multiple states, creating both public
revenues and jobs.
The study concludes that the benefits (in terms of job creation, government revenues, and consumer
choice) of allowing wine sales in food stores, far outweigh any potential negative impact.
Enabling wine to be sold in 8,489 food stores in states that today restrict such sales will produce a total
economic impact of $14.3 billion across the U.S., including a net increase of more than 168,000 jobs
and incremental tax collections of more than $3.3 billion at the state and local levels and of more
than $1.9 billion at the federal level.
This market expansion in licenses would reduce total package store sales by only 2.52%. Most package
stores are likely to sustain their businesses, as they have in most states with open markets, or take
advantage of the mitigations offered by market reform, to redeem the increased value of their licenses.
While adapting to a changing economic environment is often difficult, states that have made the change
have found their fears preceding the change were unjustified.
Allowing food stores to sell wine will return wine to its appropriate and traditional role as part of a meal,
encouraging healthy consumption, while increasing consumer choice and convenience.
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Food and Package Store Count
Alaba a Arizon Arkan as Califo nia DistricColum
ofia
Food
Store
Count
P
C
g
unt
Food
Store
Count
P
C
g
unt
Food
Store
Count
P
C
g
unt
Food
Store
P
C
g
unt
Food
Store
Count
kg
ount
2001 1,035 38 988 1 0 721 3 4 9,170 2,798 267 178
2009 878 63 1,163 1 1 586 3 6 9,575 2,954 321 167
Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois
2001 4,748 01 2,252 6 9 357 59 387 23 3,509 1,091
2009 6,044 1,289 2,135 8 0 411 49 352 28 3,593 1,267
Indian Iowa Louisi a Maine Maryland2001 1,300 85 728 1 3 1,873 1 6 695 27 1,441 963
2009 5,641 23 641 114 1,615 1 9 595 36 2,033 1,109
Michig Misso ri Montan Nebra a Nevad
2001 3,245 1,726 1,316 4 3 317 44 513 74 460 51
2009 2,942 1, 99 1,244 3 2 251 63 463 37 566 98
New Mexi o North Car lina North Dakota Ohio Oregon
2001 327 87 2,614 1 213 69 3,795 1,220 1,260 171
2009 301 80 2,325 7 187 69 3,347 1,033 1,382 212
South Car lina South Dakota Texas Verm n Virgini
2001 1,421 400 257 49 5,601 1,128 354 52 1,932 68
2009 1,129 328 214 52 5,641 1,285 1,285 387 2,048 102Washin ton West Virgi ia Wisc n in Wyo ing
2001 1,905 135 731 51 1,156 436 118 98
2009 1,872 154 568 52 999 388 99 62
Source: Source: Adams Wine Handbook 2010, Economic Census of the U.S., U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and StonebridgeResearch Group LLC.
Appendix 2: Wine Consumption by State, 2008-2009
Total WiConsum
(Gallons
eption Adult P pulation
AnnualCapitaConsu
(Gallon !
Perdultption
)!2008 2009 2008 2009 2008 2009
U.S. TOTAL 700,568 705,844 218,137 220,562 3.21 3.20
LICENSE STATES
TOTAL
541,921 545,723 158,070 159,924 3.43 3.41
Alaska 1,907 1,932 450 457 4.24 4.23
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Arizona 14,969 15,238 4,182 4,235 3.58 3.60
Arkansas 3,039 3,043 2,072 2,095 1.47 1.45
California 126,319 127,316 26,818 27,339 4.71 4.66
Colorado 11,827 11,574 3,484 3,555 3.39 3.26
Connecticut 12,489 12,536 2,714 2,764 4.60 4.54
Delaware 3,233 3,210 576 570 5.62 5.63
District of Columbia 3,928 3,965 501 515 7.84 7.70
Florida 57,882 58,237 13,079 13,115 4.43 4.44
Georgia 14,919 14,833 6,526 6,591 2.29 2.25
Hawaii 4,341 4,400 969 980 4.48 4.49
Illinois 30,885 31,303 9,095 9,126 3.40 3.43
Indiana 9,601 9,702 4,570 4,607 2.10 2.11
Kansas 2,506 2,452 1,953 1,962 1.28 1.25
Kentucky 4,422 4,403 3,143 3,164 1.41 1.39
Louisiana 7,161 7,036 3,177 3,235 2.25 2.18
Maryland 12,612 12,724 4,052 4,087 3.11 3.11Massachusetts 26,400 26,843 5,131 5,216 5.15 5.15
Minnesota 10,668 10,820 3,681 3,697 2.90 2.93
Missouri 10,657 10,660 4,278 4,308 2.49 2.47
Nebraska 2,285 2,294 1,322 1,344 1.73 1.71
Nevada 9,954 9,982 1,765 1,785 5.64 5.59
New Jersey 31,066 31,588 6,525 6,596 4.76 4.79
New Mexico 3,392 3,442 1,323 1,330 2.56 2.59
New York 56,448 56,886 14,641 14,790 3.86 3.85
North Dakota 848 865 494 503 1.72 1.72
Oklahoma 4,033 4,131 2,793 2,851 1.44 1.45Rhode Island 3,649 3,623 823 826 4.43 4.39
South Carolina 6,902 6,966 3,244 3,296 2.13 2.11
South Dakota 957 979 574 582 1.67 1.68
Tennessee 8,026 8,220 4,454 4,498 1.80 1.83
Texas 32,555 32,204 15,604 15,820 2.09 2.04
Wisconsin 12,043 12,316 4,058 4,084 2.97 3.02
CONTROL STATES
TOTAL
158,647 160,122 60,067 60,638 2.64 2.64
Alabama 6,535 6,684 3,469 3,516 1.88 1.90
Idaho 3,133 3,144 1,009 1,020 3.11 3.08
Iowa 3,298 3,378 2,273 2,299 1.45 1.47
Maine 3,636 3,603 1,008 1,010 3.61 3.57
Michigan 19,065 19,136 7,428 7,453 2.57 2.57
Mississippi 2,138 2,100 2,095 2,111 1.02 1.00
Montana 2,168 2,166 703 710 3.08 3.05
New Hampshire 6,289 6,319 957 960 6.57 6.58
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North Carolina 15,718 15,760 6,268 6,343 2.51 2.48
Ohio 18,949 19,359 8,382 8,415 2.26 2.30
Oregon 11,825 11,842 2,859 2,914 4.14 4.06
Pennsylvania 18,787 18,386 9,127 9,135 2.06 2.01
Utah 2,270 2,282 1,675 1,707 1.36 1.34
Vermont 2,522 2,578 487 492 5.18 5.24
Virginia 19,415 20,018 5,572 5,638 3.48 3.55
Washington 20,939 21,427 4,918 5,047 4.26 4.25
West Virginia 1,194 1,173 1,448 1,467 0.82 0.80
Wyoming 766 766 389 400 1.97 1.92
Source: Adams Wine Handbook, 2010. Note this table refers to total wine consumption, whereas Table 1 refers to EthanolConsumption from Wine, ethanol alcohol being one component of wine
Appendix 3: Density of Retail Outlets for Wine, Open Market States, 2010
State Retail Outlets Adult Population Average AdultPopulation Per
Outlet
Total 155,327 155,733,379 1003
Alabama 3,364 3,580,000 1,064
Arizona 2,786 4,205,000 1,509
California 16,056 27,186,000 1,693
D.C. 532 517,000 972
Florida 17,685 13,376,000 756
Georgia 8,632 6,572,000 761
Hawaii 931 1,015,000 1090
Idaho 1,391 1,051,000 756
Indiana 2,667 4,647,000 1742
Illinois 6,320 8,970,000 1419
Iowa 2,254 2,306,000 1023
Louisiana 6,390 3,341,000 523
Maine 1,700 1,012,000 595
Maryland 1,591 4,140,000 2602
Michigan 8,028 7,326,000 913
Missouri 4,770 4,343,000 910
Montana 884 738,379 835
Nebraska 993 1,355,000 1365
Nevada 1,180 1,865,000 1581
New Hampshire 1,397 954,000 683
New Mexico 887 1,360,000 1533
North Carolina 10,392 6,551,000 630
North Dakota N.A. 501,000 N.A.
Ohio 8,410 8,397,000 998
Oregon 4,278 2,924,000 683
South Carolina 4,723 3,404,000 721
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South Dakota 619 591,000 955
Texas 16,723 16,137,000 965
Vermont 1,063 492,000 463
Virginia 7,582 5,749,000 758
Washington 5,294 5,118,000 967
West Virginia 1,266 1,476,000 1166Wisconsin 3,801 4,117,000 1083
Wyoming 738 417,000 565
Source: Adams Wine Handbook and U.S. Census
Appendix 4: Density of Retail Outlets for Wine, Restricted StatesRetail Outletsfor Wine
Adult Population Adult Population perRetail Outlet for Wine
Total 16,387 67,039,711 4,091
Alaska 369 470,000 1,274
Arkansas 430 2,122,000 4,935
Colorado 1,615 3,599,000 2,228
Connecticut 1,224 2,781,000 2,272Delaware 369 583,000 1,580
Kansas 762 1,977,000 2,594
Kentucky 827 3,200,000 3,869
Montgomery County,
Maryland
164 690,711 4,212
Massachusetts (Max 3
locations per license)*
2,555 5,216,000 2,041
Minnesota 1,065 3,723,000 3,496
Mississippi 510 2,155,000 4,225
New Jersey (Max 2
locations per license)
1,784 6,554,000 3,674
New York 2,511 14,666,000 5,841
Oklahoma 646 2,901,000 4,491
Pennsylvania 601 9,229,000 15,356
Rhode Island 259 812,000 3,135
Tennessee 552 4,608,000 8,348
Utah 144 1,753,000 12,174
Source: Adams Wine Handbook 2010, Stonebridge Research Group LLC and state agencies * Recent legislative changes inMassachusetts will allow licensees to increase the number of their retail locations per license from three currently to five as of2012, seven as of 2016, and nine as of 2020.
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About Stonebridge Research Group LLC
Stonebridge Research Group LLC is a leading and authoritative source of research, data and insight into
the business of wine and the key trends and forces driving the industry. Stonebridge Researchs services
include market and consumer research, basic industry research, litigation research, financial and
operational benchmarking, economic impact studies, and business and strategic planning for all segments
of the wine industry.
Stonebridge Research Group LLC has conducted major market and consumer studies for the Wine
Institute, Wines of Chile, Wines from Spain, French Trade Ministry/UBIFRANCE, Bodegas de Argentina,
Napa Valley Vintners, the Office of Champagne, several U.S. states and regional wine organizations, major
producers, industry investors, and suppliers in the U.S., Europe and Latin America, among others.
Stonebridges Fine Wine Trade Monitor is considered a definitive assessment of the state of the U.S.
independent wine trade. Stonebridge provides the litigation research for the U.S. Coalition for Free Trade,
and has been a cited reference in U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Court findings.
Barbara Insel is President and Chief Executive of Stonebridge Research Group LLC. Prior to creating
Stonebridge Research LLC in 2008 with a group of industry investors, Ms. Insel was the ManagingDirector for MKF Research LLC for four years, leading all research and advisory activities for this leading
wine business consulting firm, including the first study of the Impact of Wine, Grapes and Related Products
on the American Economy and managing the Wine Institutes first market research project in twenty years,
which culminated in its California First promotion strategy.
Ms. Insel teaches in the Wine Business program at the Culinary Institute of America, speaks widely on the
business of wine and the U.S. wine market, has been quoted in publications ranging from The Wall Street
Journaland Bloomberg to many leading wine media, where her research has also been widely published.
Prior to joining the wine industry, Ms. Insel spent more than twenty years in senior positions in international
investment and investment banking with organizations including Salomon Brothers, Morgan Stanley AssetManagement, Kleinwort Benson, the European Bank for Reconstruction, and Development and the World
Bank.
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