Roxanna Reyes

MCOM 2320
Proposition 1 to Allow Liquor Stores in Grapevine
GRAPEVINE, Texas Residents will be allowed to vote over a new law on Nov. 8 that will
allow liquor stores to open in the city.
The proposal was added to the Grapevine ballot after the Grapevine Citizens for Total Wine &
More Political Action Committee submitted a petition on May 27. The PAC is financially backed
by one of the largest liquor retailers in the United States, Total Wine & More. The petition
contained 5,339 signatures, although only 3,864 signatures (or 35 percent of registered
Grapevine voters) were needed to be approved by the Tarrant County Elections Administration.
The retailer also hired a legislative and business consulting firm to help distribute the petition
throughout the city.
Personally, I think its a great idea, said Pablo Mendez, who has lived in Grapevine for 26
years. I hate having to drive to a different city like Dallas or Lewisville if I want to buy a bottle
of liquor. Grapevine already has several wineries and breweries so I dont see why we cant have
liquor stores too.
I get questions all the time from customers asking why we dont have more stores available in
the metroplex. People are excited about the possibility of adding a Grapevine location, said Lisa
McCullough, an employee for Total Wine & More at the Lewisville store.
But many other people have voiced their opposition to the proposal. Several Grapevine officials
have also urged people to vote against the proposition, including Mayor William D. Tate. In a
letter sent to voters, he said, A large out-of-state company is threatening our way of life. They
want to build liquor stores in Grapevine to line their pockets. He also said that liquor stores
could cause an increase in crime. City Councilwoman, Sharron Spencer, has also voiced her
disapproval.
An opposing PAC, Grapevine Family PAC, was formed in June and has received $7,700 in
donations in total. Residents that are worried about the possibility of having liquor stores placed
in their community have been placing yard signs provided by the Grapevine Family Pac that
read, Vote no! No liquor stores near our schools and churches.
Grapevine businesses are currently not allowed to sell alcohol within city limits unless it has a
food and beverage permit. In order to qualify for this permit, businesses must be able to show
that they must make at least 51 percent of their revenue from food sales. If the proposition is
approved by voters, not only will liquor stores be allowed, but a permit will also be made
available that will not require this food-to-alcohol sales ratio.
Currently, Grapevine offers a few breweries and wineries that attract hundreds of tourists
annually. But if local residents want to buy hard liquor, they have to drive to the nearest liquor
store locations being in Lewisville and Colleyville.