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Hard alcohol could be getting a spot next to beer and wine at the grocery store. As Matt Galka tells us, the proposal is getting mixed reviews in the Capitol.

Keeping liquor away from the lettuce in the grocery aisle has been on the books for 80 years. Representative Greg Steube’s proposal would change that.

“It’s been something that’s been in place since 1935, obviously we should go back and see if it’s still necessary,” said the Sarasota Republican.

Currently, grocers or convenience stores need to have a separate door to go into the main store, where you could buy beer, and the liquor store, where you could buy other hard alcohol.

But the Senate isn’t as ready to tear the wall down.  Sen. Kelli Stargel filed an amendment that would still keep the liquor store separate from other stores.

“My opposition to the bill as a whole, was that I don’t want to have liquor store, hard liquor on the shelves in the regular store. I think they need to be a separate liquor store. I think this bill accomplishes that, it is still a separate liquor store, it just gives the convenience of a door,” said Sen. Stragel (R-Lakeland).

Her proposal would allow a direct door from a grocery or convenience store to the liquor store instead of having to go outside.

“They watered it down, I mean, basically what they did was allow a door in the wall, but staff’s interpretation of it is that it wouldn’t allow you to go in there and purchase it after you’ve been in the main store,” said Rep. Steube.

Grocery giant Publix has strongly opposed mixing liquor and groceries – they run separate stores for each.  Independent liquor stores are also worried repealing the current law could cut into their sales.

The Senate’s version of the bill has two more stops before it could get a vote on the Senate floor.