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On April 20, 2018, Governor Haslam signed into law the “Seven Day Sales Legislation” (SB2518/HB1540). As a result, many of the new law’s provisions became immediately effective. Please see the information below from Zach Blair, Assistant Director of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, for a summary of the provisions of the bill.
Retail Package Stores:
- As of Sunday, April 22, 2018, Retail package stores can now sell alcoholic beverages between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
- Retail package store shall not sell alcoholic beverages on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter.
- Retail package stores must immediately begin “marking up” the price of spirits by ten percent (10%). The minimum markup for wine remains 20%.
- Please refer to the Unfair Wine Sales Law FAQ for information regarding the markup calculations and agency interpretation.
Retail Food (Grocery) Stores
- Retail food stores cannot sell wine on Sunday until January 6, 2019.
- Beginning on January 6, 2019, retail food stores may begin selling wine on Sundays between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
- Retail food stores may sell wine on any holiday.
Moratorium on New Retail Package Stores in Jurisdictions that Approved Package Stores before April 1, 2018
- To obtain a retail package store license in a jurisdiction that approved retail package stores before April 1, 2018, an applicant must have had filed and paid for a retail package store license application on or before April 19, 2018, or an applicant must acquire the right to purchase an existing licensee in that jurisdiction.
- The moratorium does not apply to jurisdictions who pass referenda authorizing retail package stores after April 1, 2018.
- The moratorium expires on July 1, 2021.
CREDIT: Zach Blair, Assistant Director, Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Last modified: April 25, 2018
