Oklahoma liquor laws

[bchris02]

Yeah, but will availability really be increased? Where will you be able to buy beer after reform that you are not able to buy beer at now?

There will be no new outlets selling beer. Everywhere currently selling 3.2 beer will be able to sell full-strength beer up to 6% ABV. If a grocer wants to sell wine, they have to purchase a license from an existing liquor store. This should put the "increased availability" concern to rest.

The big issue is that lot of people are uninformed about the entire 3.2 beer vs "6 point" debate. They think 6 point is giving them twice as much alcohol per beer. In reality, its usually 15-20% more (less for light beers). Honestly, I think 3.2 beer gives people an excuse to drink more than they otherwise would because they think they are getting half the alcohol. I knew a guy who downed a six pack of Bud and then got behind the wheel and he was like "I'm fine, its only 3.2 beer." In this case, you could say that low-point is giving people a false sense of security causing more intoxicated people to get behind the wheel.

The thing is, many opponents of modern laws have the same misconception and think that putting real beer on grocery store shelves is going to put more drunks out on the road.

[Cocaine]

So I recently moved to China for work. I have been living here for a few months now. Why does Oklahoma have more restrictive liquor laws than China? You can pretty much walk into any grocery store, convenience store, or mom and pop shop and buy beer, wine, liquor at anytime (as long as the store is open). The only place I've been so far that doesn't do this is the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an everywhere else it's pretty much lax on when you can buy alcohol and the type being sold.

[bchris02]

So I recently moved to China for work. I have been living here for a few months now. Why does Oklahoma have more restrictive liquor laws than China? You can pretty much walk into any grocery store, convenience store, or mom and pop shop and buy beer, wine, liquor at anytime (as long as the store is open). The only place I've been so far that doesn't do this is the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an everywhere else it's pretty much lax on when you can buy alcohol and the type being sold.

I don't believe that China ever had a temperance movement like North America. It's the same way in Europe. A lot of the negative stigma that still surrounds alcohol in the U.S. stems from the temperance movement in the late 19th and early 20th century led by protestant Christian denominations. Here we are almost 100 years after Prohibition and its legacy is still with us.

[Bunty]

So I recently moved to China for work. I have been living here for a few months now. Why does Oklahoma have more restrictive liquor laws than China? You can pretty much walk into any grocery store, convenience store, or mom and pop shop and buy beer, wine, liquor at anytime (as long as the store is open). The only place I've been so far that doesn't do this is the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an everywhere else it's pretty much lax on when you can buy alcohol and the type being sold.

I would simply assume the Chinese have a long tradition of knowing how to handle the presence of alcohol with moderation.

[Dubya61]

... Here we are almost 100 years after Prohibition and its legacy is still with us.

Oklahoma only repealed prohibition in 1959.
Prohibition | Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture

[Jersey Boss]

So I recently moved to China for work. I have been living here for a few months now. Why does Oklahoma have more restrictive liquor laws than China? You can pretty much walk into any grocery store, convenience store, or mom and pop shop and buy beer, wine, liquor at anytime (as long as the store is open). The only place I've been so far that doesn't do this is the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an everywhere else it's pretty much lax on when you can buy alcohol and the type being sold.

Yeah, but in China that vodka you are drinking could be rubbing alcohol. No thanks to Chinese style market regulation.

[jerrywall]

Oklahoma only repealed prohibition in 1959.
Prohibition | Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture

Hey, prohibition was good for me family. Not saying my great grandfather was a bootlegger... but....

I still remember them finally legalizing liquor by the drink. It's funny that voters can go one way or another on liquor laws. Most recently, as far as I know, we voted to allow liquor to be served while the polls are open (and liquor stores to be open on election day). But a little further back, we cut down the hours liquor stores were allowed to be open, and also when beer could be sold at grocery stores. I'd say any vote is a tossup, which is why I appreciate them doing some surveys to find out what would be most palatable.

[bchris02]

Hey, prohibition was good for me family. Not saying my great grandfather was a bootlegger... but....

I still remember them finally legalizing liquor by the drink. It's funny that voters can go one way or another on liquor laws. Most recently, as far as I know, we voted to allow liquor to be served while the polls are open (and liquor stores to be open on election day). But a little further back, we cut down the hours liquor stores were allowed to be open, and also when beer could be sold at grocery stores. I'd say any vote is a tossup, which is why I appreciate them doing some surveys to find out what would be most palatable.

From what it seems, in recent decades Oklahomans have voted against laws they perceive would increase alcohol access to minors. That's why liquor by the drink was able to pass yet the state voted to decrease the hours of operation for liquor stores as well as regulate when 3.2 beer can be sold.

If the RLAO proposal goes to vote next fall, I think it will be a good indication of where the state is on alcohol in 2016. I think younger voters, especially in the two metro areas, would be overwhelmingly supportive of change. The older generation and rural areas however might be opposed to it. Overall I think whether or not reform passes depends on who turns out to vote.

[tsou89]

I've heard a local big distributor is seeking to change some language in this legislation in order to ensure his company has some major advantages.
Anyone else heard this?

[bchris02]

I've heard a local big distributor is seeking to change some language in this legislation in order to ensure his company has some major advantages.
Anyone else heard this?

Wouldn't surprise me. It's been said here that the biggest pushback against the RLAO proposal will be from the distributors.

I really understand where they are coming from. Though the laws were put in place by the thou-shalt-nots, the entire liquor industry in this state was built around them and change means there will be winners and losers. I don't think there is any solution that is going to satisfy everyone.

[bchris02]

Spoiler free first impressions...

The First Spoiler-Free Impressions of The Force Awakens, Straight From the Premiere

[Bunty]

From what it seems, in recent decades Oklahomans have voted against laws they perceive would increase alcohol access to minors. That's why liquor by the drink was able to pass yet the state voted to decrease the hours of operation for liquor stores as well as regulate when 3.2 beer can be sold.

But I thought the state legislature, not state initiatives, voted for those last two changes.

[Plutonic Panda]

?It just doesn?t make sense,? Wineries say old liquor laws are hurting business | KFOR.com

[AP]

I took a tour of Roughtail this weekend and they told us a little more about the crazy OK laws. One specifically I remember is that they can't just tap their own kegs at their taphouse that is connected to the brewery. They have sell to the distributors then buy it back at the higher price.

[Bullbear]

I took a tour of Roughtail this weekend and they told us a little more about the crazy OK laws. One specifically I remember is that they can't just tap their own kegs at their taphouse that is connected to the brewery. They have sell to the distributors then buy it back at the higher price.

Yup.. that is the big hurdle for tap houses in OKC. you can't just sell your own beer you made on premises. So stupid

[tsou89]

A friend that has a client with major interest in this legislation told me it's likely not going anywhere. One particuliar distributor has clouded the bill with nonsense. He said the bill should be a simple one where the state can basically please people by selling wine in grocery stores and "strong" beer cold but apparently the language has complicated the issue. Too bad greed will cause the state to lag behind.

[bchris02]

A friend that has a client with major interest in this legislation told me it's likely not going anywhere. One particuliar distributor has clouded the bill with nonsense. He said the bill should be a simple one where the state can basically please people by selling wine in grocery stores and "strong" beer cold but apparently the language has complicated the issue. Too bad greed will cause the state to lag behind.

So disappointing. I was hoping to vote on modern liquor laws next November. Any chance they could still come up with a compromise?

The thing is, there is no way to modernize in a way that will please everybody. Compromises have to be made. I wish they would just allow liquor stores to sell cold beer and open on Sunday. That would be enough to bring Oklahoma more in line with other states when it comes to actual convenience with minimal impact on businesses. So what if I have to make two stops instead of one.

[tsou89]

So disappointing. I was hoping to vote on modern liquor laws next November. Any chance they could still come up with a compromise?

The thing is, there is no way to modernize in a way that will please everybody. Compromises have to be made. I wish they would just allow liquor stores to sell cold beer and open on Sunday. That would be enough to bring Oklahoma more in line with other states when it comes to actual convenience with minimal impact on businesses. So what if I have to make two stops instead of one.

My friend didn't sound like there was much of a chance there would be any compromise as the owner of the distributorship that is causing the problems cares about nothing but money…which he already has plenty of.

If things stay in the current archaic state they are currently he will continue to cash in. So he doesn't care one bit if there's progress.

[Bunty]

My friend didn't sound like there was much of a chance there would be any compromise as the owner of the distributorship that is causing the problems cares about nothing but money…which he already has plenty of.

If things stay in the current archaic state they are currently he will continue to cash in. So he doesn't care one bit if there's progress.

Maybe there is somebody with plenty of money from the other side to circulate a petition, if there can't be legislative action. It would probably take at least $500,000 to employ enough signature takers. I suppose he might be subject to getting threats against his life for doing that, though.

[bchris02]

I've also heard the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma is gearing up for a fight against any kind of liberalization of the laws.

I think there are too many competing interests in this state for real liquor reform to ever happen. The best the consumer can hope for is for liquor stores to one day be allowed to sell cold beer. All it would take is a statute change, but it would have to make it through the legislature without any special interest groups tacking something on that will kill it, which is very difficult.

Colorado and Minnesota are both much, much more progressive than Oklahoma politically and culturally. While there laws are a bit more permissive than Oklahoma they aren't by very much. If those states have been unable to update the archaic prohibition-era laws, it shows how difficult it is to actually do.

[Bunty]

It will be interesting to see how long Payne County will go on with it's "reformed" liquor law, passed in 2012, in which all it did was allow liquor by the drink on Sundays, while not including holidays. So you got the strange irony in the Bible Belt in which it's okay to be served drinks stronger than 3.2% beer on the Lord's Day, Sunday, but not during holidays.

By the way, where were the Baptists back when legalizing liquor by the drink on Sunday passed by around 70% in Payne and Garfield Counties? Anyway, I reckon a state wide alcohol question on the ballot couldn't help but grab their attention, though.

[Stickman]

It will be interesting to see how long Payne County will go on with it's "reformed" liquor law, passed in 2012, in which all it did was allow liquor by the drink on Sundays, while not including holidays. So you got the strange irony in the Bible Belt in which it's okay to be served drinks stronger than 3.2% beer on the Lord's Day, Sunday, but not during holidays.

By the way, where were the Baptists back when legalizing liquor by the drink on Sunday passed by around 70% in Payne and Garfield Counties? Anyway, I reckon a state wide alcohol question on the ballot couldn't help but grab their attention, though.

When did Cimarron Casino open, 2012/13 ?

[bille]

You guys should come out to Oak n Ore on Wednesday for the craft beer summit with Senator Bice and others!

What the Ale: Beer summit slated Wednesday in OKC - Tulsa World: What The Ale

[tsou89]

Bille, couldn't make it to the summit but would love to hear about the conversation. Saw Patrick Lively on the news so hopefully this received some attention.

[bchris02]

Legislator: Oklahoma is missing out on festivals, opportunities due to alcohol laws | News OK

It seems like there is a lot of excitement behind liquor law modernization this season. Hopefully the question makes it out of conference and onto the ballot. It will be a huge benefit to Oklahoma to finally do away with these draconian laws.