Poll: New Yorkers Want Wine Sold in Grocery Stores

The wine war is heating up again, with the latest poll showing a majority of New Yorkers support selling wine in supermarkets and liquor store owners renewing efforts to pressure the Legislature into dropping the idea.

A Siena College poll released this week says 58 percent of New Yorkers would support wine sales in grocery stores. Gov. David Paterson proposed the change as part of his 2010-2011 budget proposal, estimating it could bring in $250 million.

Opponents say it would put many small liquor stores out of business and cost the state thousands of jobs.

Supermarket wine sales are allowed in 35 states.

The Siena poll surveyed 805 registered voters by phone from last Sunday through Friday. It has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

{NY Post/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}