BOSTON -- Move over beer, a battle over wine sales is brewing in the Bay State.

NewsCenter 5's Rhondella Richardson reported Tuesday that if a statewide ballot question passes in November, supermarkets and gas stations could apply for licenses to sell wine. Some package stores said that could put them out of business.

The liquor industry would love to just bag the idea, but Stop & Shop is distributing fliers, and other grocery stores are on informational campaigns to urge voters to vote "yes" on ballot Question 1 in November. It would allow stores that sell food to sell wine.

Right now, only three wine licenses are available to any one retailer. For example, Stop & Shop can only sell wine in Quincy, Hingham and Malden.

"I think it's more convenient," one customer said.

"I don't think they should make alcohol more convenient," another customer said. "I think they should make it less convenient and under stricter control."

Waltham's D & L liquors is across the street from a supermarket.

"It will affect our bottom line -- there's no two ways about it," D & L Liquors owner Peter Dion said.

If Question 1 passes, cities and towns would be granted new liquor licenses based on population. Waltham would be eligible for 16 new licenses.

"There's only three supermarkets, so that leaves 13 licenses that are going to go to either 7-11s, Mobil on the Gos or small convenience stores," Dion said.

Stop & Shop argued that gas stations won't qualify as food stores.

"A bona fide food store has to carry a range of products, including produce, meats," Stop & Shop spokeswoman Vicki Lopez said.

Liquor stores boast of their larger wine selections and expertise in vineyards and vetting out underage drinkers.

"He has 17-, 18-year-old cashiers. Their friends come in and they empty out a 12-pack of coke and they put in three bottles of wine and go through the checkout with it," Dion said.

"No system is foolproof, but we put systems in place to prevent those things," Lopez said.

Both sides said they they're just thinking of the customer.