NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For the fourth year in a row, a bill that would have allowed convenience and grocery stores to stock wine has been quashed, The Tennessean reports. The House State and Local Government Committee killed the measure that would have asked voters to decide whether or not their county should let grocery and convenience stores sell wine.

The decision appears to show that lawmakers continue to support only liquor stores selling wine in Tennessee. Liquor stores lobbied hard to convince legislators that such a move would kill jobs and businesses even though economic studies show a potential for $19-$38 million in tax revenue and 1,000-3,500 jobs.

"This has always been about the consumer, and this bill will continue to come back," said Jarron Springer, president of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association. "The consumers are going to continue to voice their opinions. It's incomprehensible to me that the legislature voted down the opportunity to let the voters decide."

Those in favor of the bill showed lawmakers polling data indicating the 69% of residents support wine sales in grocery and convenience stores, but that wasn€™t enough to sway committee members. The committee also put off any other debate on the bill until next summer, but supporters can attempt to bring the issue up sooner by filing a new measure.

"We'll see what happens the rest of this session," said Springer. "We pretty much know how they feel after today, which is good. I think we got some thoughts expressed on record today which had never happened before."