Newcomers and visitors to Oklahoma are often surprised to learn they can't buy a bottle of wine while shopping for groceries. They can only buy wine and strong beer at retail liquor stores.

That could change within a couple of years if a group working on an initiative petition gets its way. Oklahomans for Modern Laws plans an initiative petition drive to collect more than 200,000 signatures of registered voters.

After an anticipated challenge, the question could go before Oklahoma voters as early as the General Election in 2008. The hook is convenience and the tired but true mantra of economic development.

Petition backers say upscale grocery stories like Trader Joe's, Central Market or Whole Foods won't locate in states that don't allow the sale of wine in grocery stores.

Thirty-four states allow the sale of wine and beer in grocery stores. In 1984, Oklahoma became one of the last states in the country to approve county option, liquor-by-the-drink sales.

The group is headed by Larry Wood, key proponent in the 1984 liquor-by-the-drink petition. Mr. Wood, in a Transcript editorial board meeting last year, said he believes the state is ready to move forward on some of its restrictions.

Retail liquor stores won't take the petition lightly. The president of their association said they'll fight any disruption to the current set-up.

The group went the petition route after legislators wouldn't take up the issue. Oklahomans ought to be able to vote on the wine question. But leave economic development out of it. That's been the pie-in-the-sky for everything from horse racing and cockfighting to right-to-work. Businesses will locate here if they can see a return on investment, not whether you can buy wine and milk in the same location.